St. John Community Foundation

The St. John Community Foundation is a registered non-profit Virgin Islands corporation and has federal 501(c)(3) status as a charitable institution. We exist to serve the people of St. John.

 Since 1989, the St. John Community Foundation has offered and sponsored numerous community programs and events. We want to help you with your community project. Please, review our site to see what we offer and how we can make your community project a reality.

Each month we will provide a newsletter letting you know what's happening on our island. We want and need your input and ideas. Stop by our Blogs or Forums sections and let us know what YOU want and how we can make our community better, or send us an e mail at allawe@sjcf.org

This month-Recycling! Visit our story about this exciting new environmental program on St. John

Yes! The National Park field is going through a face lift and we think you will love the results.

Last December, it was announced that a great new community initiative between the St. John Community Foundation, Housing, Parks and Recreation and the National Park Service, would enhance the field for greater community use. There will be new field lighting, a new fence, drainage and an entirely new grass surface. In addition, the playground next door will receive new play ground equipment, repairs to the existing structures, new sand, new fence and a new undersurface to prevent erosion of the playground surface.

Paul Devine, Executive Director of the St. John Community Foundation, got the ball rolling. "I have been running a flag football league for kids over the past few years and the field does need repairs". Devine, who heads the American Legion Post 131Flag Football League for kids, realized from the start that the field could provide more than just a sports venue. "This field is really under-utilized and I felt strongly that we could do more to allow the community greater access".

The field's surface was the biggest obstacle as it was almost devoid of grass and the surface made it very slippery after a rain. What was needed was a new surface that included drainage so it would never erode away again. Devine approached P&R with the idea and they responded very quickly. The field was surveyed by volunteers and the plan was underway.

New Lights Too!

"We had hoped that P&R would allow a partnership where local contractors would help with field excavation while P&R provided the materials". What was proposed surprized Devine: "They said they would install field lights!" I was so pleased that lighting would be included because it opened up the possibilities for the entire community to plan events in the cool of the evening". The new field lighting will allow evening baseball, football, soccer, concerts and a host of other activities.

A Partnership is Born

The plan called for a lot of volunteer time and equipment. Paul Devine took care of that by asking local contractors to donate time and equipment and their expertise. "I was awed by the level of cooperation" said Devine. Permission to renovate the area had to come from the owners-The National Park Service. An infusion of funds was needed for lights, soil, stone, piping and fencing. The Department of Housing, Parks and Recreation, thanks to it's Commissioner St. Claire Williams, sought and found money in the budget to make the project a raality. The result is The National Park Field Community Partnership

The partnership is supplemented by local contractors Majestic Construction, Penn's Services, Wharton-Smith Construction and Ira Wade of DPW has pledge equipment and manpower.

Already, the playgroud has been improved and work on the field itself will begin in February and is slated to be completed in three months. "Hopefully, by the summer, the grass will be strong enough to support athletics and other community events" said Devine.

For more information on this project, contact Paul Devine at 693-9410