News Release

Caribbean Parks Working Closer Together

Date: July 25, 2017
Contact: Yanira Martinez, 787-729-6777

Each Caribbean unit of the National Park Service is significant to America’s natural and cultural heritage. The NPS recently finalized a management review, which found that by pooling services, we could more effectively protect and preserve these national treasures. A more closely defined working relationship between the Caribbean parks could open access to resources and expertise while strengthening park operations.
 
Effective July 2017, the management of Christiansted National Historic Site, Buck Island Reef National Monument, Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve all in the Saint Croix island, Virgin Islands National Park, Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument in Saint John, and San Juan National Historic Site in San Juan, Puerto Rico will now report to a Caribbean Parks Superintendent stationed in the Caribbean. Randy Lavasseur, whom has been the Superintendent of the San Juan National Historic Site, has been assigned to now be the Caribbean Parks Superintendent. Lavasseur and his family will continue to reside in San Juan, Puerto Rico and will travel to the parks as needed.
 
The realignment means that the parks are shifting human resource reporting lines and that park employees will have greater access to resources and support to do their jobs. Each park still has a unit manager who maintains local control, and these managers will now report to a group Superintendent in the Caribbean. This model pushes more critical decision-making to the Caribbean, instead of to Atlanta 1,500 miles away. Similar park groups are found in New York, Arizona, and North Carolina.
 
There will be no changes to the parks’ names or legal authorities. The term “Caribbean Parks” has been coined for internal administrative purposes.
 
We appreciate your ongoing support of your national parks and invite you to contact us with any questions.
 
To learn more about San Juan National Historic Site, what the park has to offer and how we work with local communities to educate, preserve local history and resources, and how you can help, please go to www.nps.gov/saju, follow us on Facebook under San Juan National Historic Site or Instagram at SanJuanNPS.

San Juan National Historic Site (SAJUNHS) is comprised of Castillo San Felipe del Morro, Castillo San Cristóbal, Fort San Juan de La Cruz (El Cañuelo), La Puerta de San Juan and most of the city wall. The park is open every day from 9:00 a.m to 6:00 p.m, except on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas or New Years. The entrance to San Juan National Historic Site is $5 for adults 16 and older and free of charge for children 15 and under accompanied by an adult.