Lind Point Construction Project

A computer generated mock-up of the Research Management and Science Facility that is currently under construction at Lind Point.

NPS photo.

In 2017, Hurricanes Irma and Maria damaged or destroyed NPS housing and infrastructure vital to the protection of the park's natural and cultural resources. In response to the losses from these storm events, Virgin Islands National Park has begun construction of new laboratory facilities for both our natural resources and cultural resources teams as well as new housing units for NPS employees.

The NPS has designed the new Lind Point facilities to have minimumal impact on the native ecology. The NPS considered several locations for this project, but ultimately chose Lind Point because of the lack of native plant species present in the area, lack of wetlands, and the significant distance to the nearest beach. The design of each building in the facility will incorporate native, adapted, and culturally significant species of vegetation in the planters and flowerbeds around the buildings, adding to the biodiversity of the area.

Also, the NPS has accounted for the potential impact of future tropical storms and earthquake events. These buildings will be constructed from concrete and will incorporate hurricane rated doors and windows throughout. Backup power systems will meet the energy needs of workers and residents, allowing NPS staff to respond to natural disasters quickly and efficiently.

 

A computer generated image of the entrance to the new archeology lab at Lind Point.

NPS photo.

The Danish Beach Warehouse at Cinnamon Bay served as the park's museum until it was rendered unusable in the storms of 2017. To restore this loss, the archeology facilities at Lind Point will include a state-of-the-art artifact storage facility, an archeology lab, and a multi-purpose classroom. The artifact storage facility will adhere to international museum standards, which include climate control and robust backup power systems to ensure the safety of artifacts during and after natural disasters. Also, the multi-purpose room will allow the park to provide hands-on learning opportunities for students and the public to discover the greater significance of St. John's history along with the scope of the work that archeologists engage in.

 

NPS dive teams and marine science researchers were formerly located at the Biosphere at Lind Point, which was also destroyed by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Virgin Islands National Park and Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument contain over 17000 acres of submerged lands. Caring for the delicate coral reefs, mangrove shorelines, and seagrass beds within our parks requires robust marine infrastructure. These new facilities will allow NPS scientists and dive teams to monitor these ecosystems, thereby increasing the park's capacity to study destructive pathogens like Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease and invasive species like lionfish and allowing us to build and implement strategies to mitigate their damage.

Additionally, NPS employee housing suffered major losses during the storm season of 2017, resulting in the loss of approximately 7000 square feet of living space. The lack of housing for NPS employees has challenged the park's ability to respond to on-island incidents and emergencies. With the addition of six housing units within walking distance to Cruz Bay, more park personnel will be able to reside on-island and be available to respond quickly to emergencies like resource damage incidents and search and rescue operations.

The NPS expects to complete the new facilities at Lind Point by the end of 2024.

 

A computer generated image of the south side of the Lind Point Resource Management and Science Facility.

NPS photo.