>>> THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS BOARD, STAFF OR UNDERWRITERS.

♫♫ ♫♫ ♫♫ ♫♫ ♫ ♫♫ >>> WELCOME TO ANOTHER EPISODE OF "RECOVERY IN FOCUS."

SINCE THE START OF THIS PROGRAM IN 2020 OUR GOAL HAS BEEN TO PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY WITH COMPREHENSIVE AND REALTIME UPDATES ABOUT THE VARIOUS PROJECTS THAT SIGNIFY THE TERRITORY´S RECOVERY FROM THE DISASTROUS STORMS OF 2015.

WE´VE SEEN PROGRESS ON MANY DIFFERENT FRONTS INCLUDING THE COMPLETION OF UNDERGROUND PROJECTS AND OBLIGATIONS TO THE ROY SCHNEIDER HOSPITAL AND THE START OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW ARTHUR RICH PRE-K THROUGH EIGHTH SCHOOL AND THE COMPLETION OF MULTIPLE ROAD PROJECTS AND THE MOST RECENT APPROVAL FOR REDUCTION IN THE MATCH COST WHICH YOU WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT SOON, BUT IN THIS EPISODE WE WILL CIRCLE BACK TO THE DEPARTMENT OF RECREATIONS SINCE THE AGENCY´S LAST APPEARANCE IN LATE 2021 TO GET AN UPDATE FROM THE COMMISSIONER HIMSELF ABOUT WHAT PROJECTS HAVE BEEN FINISHED TO DATE AND WHAT INITIATIVES THE DEPARTMENT HAS LEFT TO COMPLETE, BUT FIRST, HERE ARE THE MOST RECENT MOVES ON RECOVERY PROJECT INITIATIVES ACROSS THE TERRITORY.

>> FROM THE WTJX STUDIO ON ST. CROIX, I´M MARISA ELLIS.

THE TERRITORY IS SET TO RECEIVE $1 BILLION THANKS TO PRESIDENT BIDEN AND FEMA TO REDUCE THE COST SHARE FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROJECT.

ON FEBRUARY 9th, THE OFFICE OF RECOVERY DIRECTOR ROY WILLIAMS EXPLAINED.

>> IT IS A PHENOMENAL OPPORTUNITY FOR US.

WE´VE BEEN WORKING HARD ON THIS FOR MANY YEARS AND AS THE GOVERNOR SAID, THIS IS A PRECEDENT-SETTING OPPORTUNITY THAT WAS PROVIDED TO US BY FEMA AND THIS HAS NOT BEEN DONE ANYWHERE ELSE FOR US TO GET THE 428 PROJECT, OBLIGATED AT 98% AND ALSO OUR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND OUR 406 PROJECT OBLIGATED AT 95% ADDRESSING THE ISSUES FOR THE MATCH.

>> THE GOVERNOR EXPRESSED HIS THANKS TO PRESIDENT BIDEN AND HIS ADMINISTRATION AS WELL AS DEE ANN QUICKWELL AND HER TEAM WITH STACY CLASSKET FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND PARTNERSHIP AND THE DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS, PARKS AND RECREATION CELEBRATED THE COMPLETION OF BOTH PROJECTS ON ST. JOHN ON FEBRUARY 9th AND THE COMMISSIONER TELLS US MORE.

>> THE NEWLY RENOVATED BASKETBALL COURT AND THE TENNIS COURTS ARE NOT ONLY PHYSICAL SPACES, BUT SYMBOLS OF UNITY, RESILIENCE AND THE POWER OF COLLECTIVE ACTION.

>> THE GOVERNOR ALFRED BRIAN JR.

ATTENDED THE CELEBRATED EVENT.

BUSINESS OWNERS AND THE PATRONS OF THE DOWNTOWN AREA ARE FINALLY SEEING MUCH-NEEDED PRELIMINARY ROAD REPAIRS AFTER AN $8 MILLION PROJECT TO REPLACE DECADES-OLD LINES TO INDUSTRY STANDARD PVC LINES CAUSED SIGNIFICANT TRAFFIC DISRUPTIONS AND ROAD DAMAGE.

THE EPA-FUNDED PROJECT IS JUST OVER 60% COMPLETE AND IS EXPECTED TO REDUCE THE OVERFLOWS AND BACKUPS IN THE HIGH-TRAFFIC AREAS.

WE SPOKE TO RONALD PHILIPS AND SENIOR PROJECT ENGINEER TO GET AN UPDATE.

>> SO FAR, MARCO HAS 22,000 AND LATER 15,000 FEET OF ASPHALT.

THE PROJECT STARTED ON MAY 15th AND AFTER THE LINES ARE INSTALLED WITH THE SECOND PACE, WHERE ARE ALL OF THE MANHOLES GOING TO BE?

AND THEY´LL BE WITH AN EPOXY SO THAT THEY HAVE AN EFFECTIVE CONCRETE.

>> THE PROJECT WILL CONTINUE INTO THE SUMMER OF 2025.

SIMULTANEOUSLY, THE VIRGIN ISLANDS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS WILL START THE FUNDED PROJECT WITH PERMANENT ROADWAYS BY SPRING 2024.

A $5.3 MILLION GRANT THAT STRENGTHENS TERRITORYWIDE WILL BE SEEKING HIS FIRST STEP TOWARD IMPLEMENTATION AND THE INSTALLATION OF HIGHWAY SIGNAGE, CHRIS GEORGE, GIS, ADMINISTRATOR AND PROJECT MANAGER FOR THE INITIATIVE SPEARHEADED BY THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR´S OFFICE GIVES US THE DETAILS.

>> THE INITIATIVE IS A TERRITORY WIDE PROJECT THAT WILL BE ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL STANDARDIZED ADDRESS SYSTEM ACROSS THE TERRITORY AND IT WILL BE PLACED ON ALL MAJOR ISLANDS AND WHAT ARE THE MAJOR ASPECTS WILL BE STREET SIGNS FOR THE MAIN SIGNS AND TERRITORY DURING THE DURATION OF THE PROJECT.

WE ARE HERE IN THE DISTRICT OF DOWNTOWN ST. THOMAS AND WE ARE ON THE DATA AND THIS IS ONE OF THE MAIN ARTERIES AND WILL BE PUTTING UP STREET NAME SONS ACROSS TORE THEY´LL BE A BOX WITH PINE THAT WILL BE BEAUTIFUL AND COMPLETED.

>> ONCE COMPLETED THEY´LL PROVIDE THE RESIDENTS WITH A VARIETY OF BENEFITS INCLUDING IMPROVING 911 SERVICES AND ROUTING FOR POSTAL SERVICES LIKE USPS AND FEDEX AND THE EFFICIENT DELIVERY OF GOODS AND SERVICES IN THE EVENT OF A DISASTER.

THE VIRGIN ISLANDS FINANCE AUTHORITY IS ACCEPTING PROJECT APPLICATIONS FOR THE PROGRAM.

IN JANUARY THE AGENCY KICK OFF THE PROGRAM´S ROLLOUT WITH TOWN HALL MEETINGS IN BOTH DISTRICTS TO EXPLAIN HOW THE $774 MILLION HUD GRANT CAN BE UTILIZED FOR MITIGATION PROJECTS AND TO ENCOURAGE INTERESTED APPLICANTS WITH PROJECT PROPOSALS THAT FOCUS ON MITIGATING RISKS AND ENHANCING RESILIENCE.

TO CALL AND VISIT THEM ONLINE FOR INFORMATION ON WHO CAN APPLY AND HOW.

IT WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY WITH DETAILS ON ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION DEADLINES THROUGH A SERIES OF IN-PERSON AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WORK SHOP, THE FIRST OF WHICH WILL BE HELD VIA ZOOM ON FEBRUARY 28th WITH ADDITIONAL DATES TO FOLLOW THROUGHOUT MARCH.

TO STAY UP-TO-DATE WITH THE STATUS OF THESE FUNDS AND APPLICABLE DEADLINES VISIT WWW.VAHSA.GOV AND THEN CLICK ON MITIGATION.

>> AND OTHER DIH, INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CHIEF DIRECTOR RECOVERY OFFICER DANA MACLENON WELCOMED HUD DETECTIVE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR GRANT PROGRAMS CLAUDIA MONTY ROSA THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 11th FOR A THREE-DAY VISIT TO THE TERRITORY, TO REVIEW CRITICAL UPDATES AND SEE TWO JECTS, HE VISITED ONE OF 29 COMPLETED AND LIVE-IN HOLE.

THE STUFF THAT WAS FROM EMMA´S COTTAGE AND SOW THE FIRST ONGOING EFFORT TO FULLY REVITALIZE THE WALTER HODGE PAVILION.

MEETING BETWEEN HSA AND ODR WERE ALSO HELD TO EXAMINE PROGRAM ACHIEVEMENTS AND UPCOMING PROJECTS AND GRANT OPPORTUNITIES.

THE TERRITORY LOOKS FORWARD TO THE NEXT VISIT AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO DISCUSS THE PROGRESS OF PROGRAM INITIATIVES AND THEIR IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY.

DPW IS ON THE MOVE.

CON PLEATING YET ANOTHER MILLION DOLLAR RECOVERY PROJECT AND THE DISTRICT ENGINEER AT THE VIRGIN ISLANDS OF PUBLIC WORKS TELLS US ALL ABOUT IT.

>> THE FEMA PUBLIC ASSISTANCE IS COMPLETED AND REPAIRWORK WAS PERFORMED AT FIVE SITE LOCATIONS WHICH WERE THE PARKING LOT ADJACENT TO THE WATER ISLAND DOCK AND PROVIDENCE HILL AND MAIN ROAD AND HONEYMOON BEACH LANE.

THE REPAIR WORK ENCOMPASSED ASPHALT AND THE CONCRETE PAYMENT AND CALLED IT CLEANING.

THE $2.8 MILLION PROJECT WAS COMPLETED IN LLC IN THE FALL OF 2023.

HOUSING AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS ARE NOT THE ONLY SECTORS MAKING THE NEWS.

CONSTRUCTION OF THIS TERRITORY´S FIRST SCHOOL IN DECADES, THE ARTHUR RICHARDS PRE-K THROUGH EIGHTH SCHOOL IS MAKING STEADY PROGRESS SINCE OUR LAST UPDATE IN SEPTEMBER.

THE VIRGIN ISLAND´S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS NEARING THE 30% COMPLETION MARK, STEERING THE COURSE IN THE FALL OF 2026.

UTILITY UNDERMINING LIKE DRAINAGE, FIRE PRIFRNG LER AND FIREWATER MAIN LANN ARE IN PRG AS WELL AS THE FAN IS, CON RAKTORS INTERESTING DURING DOING VISITS AND FOR A LIST OF DETAILED ANNOUNCEMENTS AND INFORMATION.

THIS MONTH THE MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY IS SOLICITING THIS FOR QUALIFIED CONTRACTORS TO COMPLETE REPAIRS ON ST. CROIX.

TO VIEW THESE AND OTHER OPEN BID ANNOUNCEMENTS AS WELL AS UP-TO-DATE NEWS FROM ALL DISASTER RECOVERY PROJECTS IN THE TERRITORY LOG ON TO USODR.COM.

>>> O, THANKS FOR THAT UPDATE, LARHYSA.

IT´S OUR PLEASURE TO WELCOME BACK TO THE RECOVERY IN FOCUS THE HONORABLE CALVERT WRIGHT.

COMMISSIONER OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS PARKS AND RECREATION.

COMMISSIONER WRIGHT, THANKS FOR COMING.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

WE HAVE A WHOLE LOT TO TALK ABOUT.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF PROJECTS SO WE´RE GOING TO GET RIGHT INTO IT.

WE´LL START OFF WITH SOME OF YOUR COMPLETED PROJECTS BECAUSE YOU HAVE QUITE A FEW, ABOUT 2023 THAT YOU JUST COMPLETE.

FIRST, WE DO DORIS HODGE, WHICH ONE BRINGS YOU MOST SATISFACTION?

>> WELL ALL OF OUR PROJECT ARE PRETTY SIGNIFICANT TO THE COMMUNITY, BUT WE WAS ABLE TO GET SMALL WINS EARLY ON IN THE RECOVERY PROCESS.

WE DIDN´T HAVE THE BIG FACILITIES THAT YOU HEAR PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT EVERY DAY, BUT NEVERTHELESS, THESE FACILITIES ARE USED BY THE COMMUNITY.

SO AS YOU STATED, WILLIAMS DELIGHT, THERE ARE THINGS THERE FOR THE COMMUNITY PARTY´S MEETINGS AND IT WAS GOOD TO GET THAT FACILITY BACK OUT.

CRAMER´S PARK, WE KNOW IS A BIG, BIG FACILITY WITH THE CAMPAIGN AND PEOPLE USING THE BEACH AND THOSE ARE THE FACILITIES EARLY ON AND WE´RE HAPPY TO GIVE THEM BACK TO THE PEOPLE.

>> AND THE TENNIS COURTS AND THE COMMUNITY UTILIZED THAT FOR TENANTS.

>> THAT FACILITY IS ONE OF THE MOST TENNIS COURTS IN THE TERRITORY.

WE GET A LOT OF COMPS DOWN THERE BOTH YOUNG AND OLD AND WE WERE ABLE TO DO THE COURTS, SURFACED THEM AND GOT THE LIGHTS UP AND DID SOME WORK ON THE BLEACHERS AND WERE ABLE TO TURN IT BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> I LOOK OUT FROM MY OFFICE AND I CAN SEE, I CAN TELL WHEN YOUR EMPLOYEES ARE WORKING AND WHEN THEY´RE NOT AND YOU´VE BEEN DOING A LOT FOR THE WATERFRONT ON FRONT STREET AND ALL THE WAY OVER TO MARLEY.

>> CENTS CROIX WATERFRONT HAS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VIEWS ANYWHERE.

>> ANYWHERE?

>> I´LL GIVE YOU THAT.

ANYWHERE!

>> AHH!

>> I DEFINITELY ENJOY LOOKING OUT THERE, BUT THAT PROJECT WAS NOT JUST IMPORTANT AS ONE OF THE PROJECTS TO GO BACK OUT TO THE FACILITY, BUT IT WILL ALWAYS BE TOP PRIORITY FOR THE DEPARTMENT AND THE LIGHTS AND PROJECT THAT INDIVIDUAL THAT TRFERS THROUGH THE LIGHT IN IN THAT FACILITY.

>> WE´VE HAD IN SOME PAST SOME UP FORTUNATELY IT´S COMPETING WHERE PEOPLE MIDWEST PEOPLE BELIEVE SEE DOWN THERE.

>> YOU PLACE THE CHAIN, AS WELL AND THE CHAIN LINK ALONG THE WATERFRONT.

>> THAT´S WHERE THE CRUISE SHIPS ARE COMING IN AND WE HAVE TOURISTS COMING IN AND NOT JUST FOR THE TOURISTS, BUT FOR OUR OWN COMMUNITY, IT FEELS GOOD TO GO DOWN THERE LOOKING GOOD AGAIN.

>> AS WE HEARD IN THE NEWS PORTION OF THE SHOW, YOU HOSTED THE FIRST RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY AND WE´RE NOT GOING TO TELL THEM ABOUT THE RUNNING JOKE THAT WE HAVE, BUT I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> AND I SAW THE RESPONSE OF THE COMMUNITY ITSELF TO BRING IT TO THE TENNIS COURT AND THE BASKETBALL COURTS ONLINE.

>> YOU HEAR THE SAYING YOU ALWAYS REMEMBER YOUR FIRST.

>> THIS IS THE SAME, BUT WHAT MAKES THOSE COURTS SO SIGNIFICANT -- THOSE ARE THE ONLY FACILITY, AND THE PUBLIC FACILITIES IN ST. JOHN.

THERE IS ONLY ONE PUBLIC TENNIS COURT AND ONLY ONE PUBLIC BASKETBALL COURT.

SO IT WAS THAT MUCH MORE IMPORTANT FOR US TO GET THOSE FACILITIES UP, BECAUSE THAT IS THE FACILITY THAT THE COMMUNITY USEES ON ST. JOHN.

>> YOU HAVE PICKLE BALL AND YOU HAVE THE GOVERNOR OUT THERE LEARNING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT PICKLE BALL.

>> I WANT TO THANK THE CONTRACTOR BECAUSE THEY DID AN EXCELLENT JOB.

WE GOT THE COURTS RESURFACED.

WE GOT BRAND-NEW FENCING, AND THE GOVERNOR WAS ABLE TO -- I THOUGHT I WAS GOING LOSE MY JOB BECAUSE WE HAD AN ISSUE WHERE HE MISSED AND I WAS ABLE TO MAKE MY SHOT, BUT I HAVE TO THANK MY STAFF BECAUSE THEY DID AN AWESOME JOB OF CHIPPING IN AND DOING SOME IN-TIME STUFF TO THE FACILITY.

THEY GOT THE AWARD DOPE EIGHTED TO THE DEPARTMENT WHERE THEY WERE ABLE TO GO AND FIX THE BLEACHERS AT THE TENNIS COURTS.

>> YEAH.

IT TAKES A COMMUNITY.

ALSO, KUDOS TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR PUTTING TOGETHER A REALLY NICE EVENT.

IT TRULY REFLECTS THE HEART.

IF YOU´RE GOING TO SPEND THE GOVERNMENT FUNDS AND IT WILL ASSIST AND THE HEART IS REALLY THERE.

WE CAUGHT UP WITH A COUPLE OF THE RESIDENTS WHO SHARED OUR SENTIMENTS AND THEY HAD A LOT OF GREAT THINGS TO SAY ABOUT YOUR TEAM.

TAKE A LISTEN.

>> NO, NO QUESTIONS, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND ALL OF THE HARD WORK THAT THAT AGENCY HAS DONE AND THE MILDRED PARK IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.

AS A MOM, IT´S GREAT TO HAVE SOMEWHERE TO CARRY MY CHILDREN TO GO TO, AND I SEE THEY STARTED INNOVATIONS ON THE WIM PLAY GROWTH FUND.

GREAT JOB.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND AND THE PARKS IS LIGHTS ON AFTER A CERTAIN TIME AND UPGRADED EQUIPMENT AND IF WE COULD HAVE SPORTS GEAR AND MORE BALLS AND NOT JUST BASKETBALLS, TENNIS BALLS AND ALL OF THE COURTS THAT ARE THERE IF THEY HAVE EQUIPMENT TO BE USED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SHE GAVE YOU A MANDATE AND NOT JUST A BALL FOR EVERY COURT.

YOUR WORK IS NOT DONE YET AND YOU HAVE 11 LEFT TO START IN ST. THOMAS ALONE SO WE CAUGHT UP WITH THE ST. JOHN DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR KIRK THOMAS FOR AN UPDATE.

>> RIGHT NOW, THE CONTRACTOR IS ACTUALLY WORKING ON THE BUILDING AND THE INSIDE PART OF THE BUILDING AND THEY´RE DOING SHOULD REPAIRS ON THE PART OF OUR COURT THAT WOULD SMOOTH OUT THE WALLS SO WE COULD HAVE PADDLEBALLS ONCE AGAIN AND THE SYSTEM IN THE BALL FIELD WAS ONE INFECTED AREA FROM THE STORM AND THE BACKSTOP HAS TO BE REDONE, THE LIGHTING SYSTEM PUT IN PLACE AND THIS HAS HAMPERED ACTIVITIES LIKE THE LEAD ORGANIZATION BEING ABLE TO ACTUALLY PLAY GAMES OUT HERE DURING THE EVENING.

>> I KNOW THAT IS CHALLENGING AND THE EVENING WORKING ON GETTING THE LIGHTS AND THERE´S SOME BENEFITS THOUGH WHO WERE PUTTING UP THE SAME LIGHTS THAT WERE THERE.

YOU´RE DOING A LOT MORE THAN THAT.

>> WE´RE BUILDING BIGGER AND STRONGER.

WE DON´T JUST WANT TO PUT THESE FACILITIES BACK TO WHAT THEY WERE PRE-STORM.

WE´RE DOING A LOT OF MITIGATION.

WE´RE TRYING TO UPGRADE THE FACILITY.

I HEARD THE ONE YOUNG LADY TALK ABOUT HAVING THE FACILITY LIGHTS ON AND THAT´S ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT WE´LL BE ABLE TO DO AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET APPROVAL FROM FEMA TO UPGRADE THE LIGHTS TO LED LIGHTS, AND WE´RE OUTFITTING THE MAJORITY OF OUR FACILITIES UNDER THE SPR UNDER THE NEW LED SYSTEM AND NOT JUST THAT YOU´RE GOING TO NOW SEE A SAVINGS, A COST SAVINGS.

YOU´LL GET A BRIGHTER LIGHTING SYSTEM AT THE FACILITIES AND WE´LL PUT THE SYSTEMS ON TIMERS WHERE EVEN IF THE STAFF IS NOT THERE YOU CAN HAVE THE FACILITIES ON AND TURN THEM OFF VIA YOUR PHONE AND THAT IS JUST THE TECHNOLOGY.

>> IT WAS ACTUALLY -- NO MORE, AND I HEAR THAT.

OKAY.

YOU KNOW, THE CURRENT TENNIS BALLPARK IS ALSO UNDER CON CONSTRUKZ AND YOUR TEAM IS ALL THERE ABOUT THE START OF THAT PROJECT.

TAKE A LOOK.

[ INDISCERNIBLE ] MORE SO THE COMMUNITY AND THIS IS WHAT IT IS ON A REGULAR BASIS THERE AS WELL AND A BRAND-NEW SCOREBOARD AND NEW PERMIT OFFENSES AND SO HOPEFULLY THE DEPARTMENT CAN GET IT DONE WITH THE SPRING THIS YEAR AND WE´LL GET IT BACK AT NIGHT.

>> SO COMMISSIONER, WE´RE LOOKING AT THE WORK STARTED IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR AND SOMEWHERE AROUND APRIL 2024 THE PROJECT IS ESTIMATED TO BE COMPLETED.

>> WE ARE VERY CLOSE AGAIN TO ANOTHER RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY AT THE FIELD.

AS MY ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER STATED, BRAND-NEW FENCING AND NEW LED LIGHTS AND SCOREBOARDS AND SOME WORK DONE ON THE BLEACHERS, BUT THIS FACILITY IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE SITS ON THE WESTERN END OF THE ISLAND AND THIS IS THE FACILITY THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THAT AREA UTILIZED AND IT JUST HELPS TO DO MORE PROGRAMS AND MORE ACTIVITIES FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> SO $641,000 THAT WAS OBLIGATED FROM FEMA GOING TO ITS GOOD WORK ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF ST. THOMAS.

BEFORE WE MOVE OVER TO ST. CROIX, THOUGH, IT HAS SOME NEW PROJECTS ON ST. THOMAS AND WE HAVE THE BALLPARK AND THAT´S THE HALLMARK, CAN WE SAY IT LIKE THAT?

THAT´S THE MECCA OF OUR FACILITY.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND GRIFFITH PARK ON ANY GIVEN DAY MONDAY THROUGH SUNDAY HAS SOME TYPE OF ACTIVITY ON IT, AND I´M TALKING FROM BASEBALL, SOCCER, FOOTBALL, YOU NAME THE SPORT AND IT´S PLAYING THERE.

WE HAVE A BASKETBALL COURT ATTACHED TO IT AS WELL AS A PLAYGROUND AND THAT IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FACILITIES UNDER OUR PURVIEW.

WE´VE HAD SOME ISSUES, BUT NONE OF THESE PROJECTS ARE EASY, BUT WE´RE WORKING TOGETHER BETWEEN THE TEAM AT ODR AND DP WITH THIS PROJECT GETS IT IN.

>> THE NAME WOULD REVAMP THE PROJECT.

>> THESE ARE THE PROJECTS THAT ARE GETTING AN OVERHAUL AND I´LL START WITH THE BLEACHERS AND PRE-STORM WE´RE CHANGING IT TO A CONCRETE-BASED INDIVIDUAL SEATED BLEACHERS.

ABOVE THE CONCESSION, SOMETHING NEW WE´RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO MOVE OUR OFFICE FROM OUTSIDE IN OUTFIELD TO NOW AROUND THE FACILITY.

WHAT THIS IS GOING TO DO, AGAIN, SAFETY IS ALWAYS OUR NEW NUMBER ONE PRIORITY AND IT WILL BRING EMPLOYEES CLOSER IN CONTACT WITH THE PEOPLE THAT USE OUR FACILITIES AND NOW THEY´LL BE ABLE TO SIT IN OUR OFFICE AND STILL VIEW WHAT´S GOING ON IN THE FACILITIES AND WE´LL BE HAVING BRAND-NEW LED LIGHTS AND THE SCOREBOARD, AND WE ALSO HAVE A NEW BRAND-NEW SCORE BOX BUILT AT THAT FACILITY.

>> WAS IT ALWAYS TWO STORIES?

>> IT WAS ALWAYS TWO STORIES.

AND IMPORTANT ALSO IS THE RESTROOM FACILITY AND BECAUSE THAT RESTROOM WAS USED SO MUCH WE WERE ABLE TO EXPAND IT AND HAVE AN ADA RESTROOM.

>> THAT´S RIGHT.

>> WHERE WE´LL GIVE PEOPLE THAT NEED AND ASSISTANCE.

>> WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENHANCE.

YOU STARTED BACK IN AUGUST.

WE UNDERSTAND THE PROJECT IS SOMEWHERE TO BE COMPLETED THE END OF -- WANT TO GO ON RECORD WHEN WE BELIEVE WE´LL BE FINISHED WITH EMANUEL GRIFFITH?

>> I THINK THAT PROJECT CAN BE COMPLETED THIS YEAR.

I´M CONFIDENT.

WE HAVE SOME ISSUES, BUT WE´RE WORKING WITH THE CONTRACTOR AND DPW.

ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT THINGS AT THAT FACILITY IS THE LIGHTING PROJECT BECAUSE OF HOW CLOSE PROXIMITY IS TO THE WATER.

>> RIGHT.

>> ONCE WE STARTED TO DIG AND SAW EARTH STUDIES WE STARTED THAT PRETTY CLOSE DOWN WHEN WE STARTED DRILLING WE WERE ALREADY SEEING WATER IN THAT FACILITY.

ONCE WE CAN FIGURE THAT OUT AND THAT´S THE HARD PART RIGHT NOW WE´LL BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THIS PROJECT.

>> AND WITH THE STADIUM, AND I KNOW YOU HAVE WORK BEING DONE THERE.

>> WE HAD SOME WORK DONE VERY EARLY ON TO THE BLEACHERS AND THE FACILITY SO THAT WE CAN PUT THOSEN.

THEY´VE HAD TAKES, AND I HAVE TO GET IN CONVERSATION FOR THE STABLE.

IN THE MEANTIME, WE WILL GET IT BACK TO YOUR COMMUNICA.

THAT.

>> THAT IS ANOTHER HIGHLY USED FACILITY.

>> OUT IN TALK TO US A THE BIT ABOUT ABOUT -- I WISH I HAD A CERTAIN PLAN WHERE ONE DAY IT COULD BE COMPLETED AND I CAN SWITCH OVER AND WHEN YOU´RE DEALING WITH THE PROJECTS IT DOESN´T WORK OUT THAT WAY.

WE GOT SOME ASSISTANCE FROM ONE OF THE HOTELS THAT WAS ABLE TO HELP US OUT WITH SOME OF THE THINGS ON THE SCOREBOARD.

THE COMPANY THAT CAME IN, THE CONTRACTOR DID THE LIGHTING AND DID SOME FENCE WORK, BUT WE REALIZED THAT WE HAD TO GET BLEACHERS MANUFACTURED AND THAT IS THE LAST THING THAT WE ARE WAITING FOR RIGHT NOW.

AS SOON AS THOSE BLEACHERS GET IN WE´LL HAVE THE CONTRACTOR TRY TO GET THAT DONE SO WE CAN ALSO DO A RIB BE ON CUTTING.

I WOULD SAY THE BLEACHERS IS THE LAST THING FOR THAT FACILITY AND 95% COMPLETED AND YONS YOU HAVE THAT IN STYLE -- >> IT´S YOUR YEAR.

IT´S ABSOLUTELY YOUR YEAR TO GET IT BACK ONLINE.

>> IT´S BEEN A LONG, LONG ROAD AND THERE´S BEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE DEPARTMENT AND THE OUTSIDE AGENCIES AND INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN HELPING TO GET US TO THIS POINT, AND I HAVE TO THANK THE COMMUNITY FOR JUST HAVING PATIENCE WITH US BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF RED TAPE THAT GETS US TO THIS POINT UNTIL WE CAN SAY HERE, TAKE YOUR FACILITY BACK.

>> SPEAKING OF LONG-AWAITED PROJECTS, YOUR DEPARTMENT IS THE DEPARTMENT ON RECORD FOR BUILDING THE STADIUM.

>> YEAH.

>> I KNOW YOU RECENTLY TOOK A TOUR AND TELL US WHERE WE ARE AND HOW YOU SEE US PROGRESSING?

>> I WAS VERY ENCOURAGED WITH MY LAST VISIT.

THE LIGHTS HAVE GONE UP IN THAT FACILITY.

THEY HAVE NEW LED LIGHTS AND THE CONCRETE BASE FOR THE BLEACHERS ARE STARTING TO GO IN.

YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE FACILITY STARTING TO TAKE SHAPE NOW AS THE BASEBALL FIELD.

THE CONTRACTOR HAS ALREADY CLEARED OUT WHERE THE LITTLE LEAGUE FIELD IS GOING TO BE GOING, AND SO I´M STILL CONFIDENT.

I PUT MY FOOT IN MY MOUTH VERY EARLY ON AND -- THAT I AM GOING TO BE THE COMMISSION TORE CUT THE RIBBON.

>> I THINK YOU WILL BE.

>> I AM VERY CONFIDENT WITH THAT.

I HAVE TO THANK DPW AND THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING TO ENSURE THAT THIS PROJECT MOVES FORWARD AND ASSISTING THE DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS AND RECREATION.

>> SURELY YOU KNOW THE NEW ONE TO THE STADIUM IS CRITICAL AND WE WAITEDED FOR A LONG TIME AND WE WAITED A LONG TIME TO GET AN UPDATE FROM THAT WAPA NICHOLAS AND HERE IS WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY.

>> WE ARE HERE AT THE POLY JOSEPH STEED STOED YUM CON TASTE, USUALLY THE IN RIDERS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND ALSO COMPLETED IS THE OPEN CONCOURSE AND THE ELEVATOR SHAFT.

CURRENTLY THEY´RE PLASTERING THE WALLS FOR THE ENTRY AREA AND THE FIELD PLUMBING FOR THE UPPER-LEVEL RESTROOMS AND OUR NEXT STEPS ARE WORKING ON THE OUTFIELD LIGHTS AND PLASTERING THE INTERIOR WALLS FOR THE RESTROOMS AND LOCKER ROOMS.

>>.

>> THERE´S A LOT THAT´S GOING IN THERE AND LIKE YOU SAID, IT´S TAKING SHAPE AND WE´LL DEFINITELY KEEP YOU AND THE COMMUNITY UP-TO-DATE ON WHAT´S GOING ON IN THIS PROJECT.

SO FAR IN THE BIG ISLAND YOUR AGENCY HAS COMPLETED 11 PROJECTS AND I KNOW RESIDENTS ON THE WEST END OF THE ISLAND ARE READY TO SEE THE PROCESS PROPERLY KNOWN AS THE JACKSON COMPLEX, AND I HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO THE YOUTH COORDINATOR CLARITA STEPHENS GUNN.

TAKE A LISTEN.

>> FROM PRE-K RIGHT DOWN TO SENIORS, WHETHER IT´S BASEBALL, SOFTBALL, BASKETBALL OR KICKBALL WHATEVER SPORTS YOU CAN THINK OF WE DO IT HERE AT WHIM.

WE HERE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO HOPEFULLY THE WORK TO BE COMPLETED BY SUMMER OF 2024.

WE WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE OUR ANNUAL SPORTS SUMMER CAMP AND WE KNOW THE COMMUNITY IS LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS, AS WELL SO THEY CAN GET BACK TO PLAYING BALL.

>> I HAVE TO TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, THAT´S MY STOMPING GROUND.

WE PLAY BALL IN THE PARK AND YOU DON´T EVEN HAVE TO GO TO THE GAME, AND THE LITTLE LEAGUE GAMES AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO GET THE JACKSON PARK BACK UP AND RUNNING.

>> YOU KNOW, THE BALL GAMES ALWAYS HAVE SOME OF THE BEST -- AWAY FROM THE DOOR.

[ INDISCERNIBLE ] WHEN THEY´RE IN THE FIELD, IT´S SITUATED IN THE ISLAND, SO THAT FACILITY USED TO HOUSE A LOT OF THE KIDS THAT WOULD PLAY LITTLE LEAGUE AND SINCE IT´S BEEN DOWN A LOT OF THEM HAD TO BE INCONVENIENCED AND I WANT TO GET THIS FACILITY BACK OUT SO WE CAN REVAMP AND GET THE CHILDREN BACK IN THIS FACILITY.

THE CONTRACTOR HAS DONE A GREAT WORK THERE AND A LOT OF NEW PHELPSING AND BEAUTIFUL AND THEY WERE ABLE TO CONSTRUCT THE NEW BATTING CAGES.

AS YOU SAW IN THE PICTURE, A NEW PLAYGROUND AND A NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART PLAY GROUND WITH MULCH THAT WILL BE ABLE TO CATER TO THE YOUNGER PEOPLE TRAVERSING THROUGH THE FACILITY, A NEW SCOREBOARD, AND WE ALREADY HAVE THE NEW LED LIGHTS SITTING AT THAT FACILITY WAITING TO BE INSTALLED.

>> IT SOUNDS EXCELLENT AND YOU´LL HAVE THE YOUNG LADY SAY, YOU´LL HAVE A BALL FOR ALL OF YOUR COURTS.

>> GREAT SUGGESTIONS.

IF WE´LL HAVE THE FACILITIES BACK OPEN YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE THE BALLS.

>> THE PROJECT TAKES A LOT OF MILLION DOLLARS, RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> ALMOST THERE.

>> ANOTHER FACILITY WHERE I CAN SEE THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL, BUT WE´RE NOT THERE YET, BUT IT´S MY YEAR.

>> IT´S YOUR YEAR!

I´M CLAIMING IT WITH YOU.

IN ADDITION, WHIM IS TRACKING THE RESTORATION OF THE VINCENT MASON TOUR.

OUR OFFICE GETS REGULAR EMAILS, CALLS, INQUIRIES, AND I HAVE A YOUNG MAN WHO COMES UP TO THE SPEECH TEACHER AND WILLIAM, I NEED TO KNOW THE STATUS OF THE POOL, AND I WAS TOLD THAT ONE OF THE FEDERAL AGENCIES WANTED TO UNDERSTAND WHY IS THIS A PROORIT PROJECT?

>> CAN YOU ANSWER THIS?

WHY IS THE VINCENT PRIORITY -- LET ME GIVE YOU THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MY TOP TWO PRIORITIES AND HOW LONG THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN TRYING TO FINISH IS ONE OF THEM AND THE SECOND ONE IS THE MASON, AND THE FAMILIES GOING THERE.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WHAT THAT POOL DID FOR FAMILIES IS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT.

PEOPLE MIGHT SAY IT WAS JUST A POOL, BUT SOME OF THE BEST PARTIES WERE DOWN THERE AND SOME OF THE BEST PICNICS.

>> PEOPLE LIKE ME, AND WE HAD LIFEGUARD STATIONS AND THAT´S WHERE THE SWIM PROGRAM WAS EXECUTED AND SO I HAD A GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY, YOU KNOW, SOME TIME BACK.

WE HAD SOME ISSUES WHEN WE STARTED DIGGING WITH THE POOL, BUT I THINK NOW WE FIGURED IT OUT AND WE DID AWARD IT TO A NEW CONTRACTOR.

>> I THINK -- YOU KNOW, I NEED YOU TO REALLY EXPLAIN TO THE PUBLIC WHAT REALLY TRANSPIRED BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOU HAVE THE GROUNDBREAKING AND NOW YOU HAD TO HAVE THE LAST CONTRACTOR OUT OF THE JOB AND PUT IT OUT TO BID AGAIN AND THEN SELECT A CONTRACTOR, SCOPING AND IDENTIFY THE WORK THAT WAS DONE BEFORE AND WHAT WAS NOT DONE, NEGOTIATE WITH THE CONTRACTORS AND THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK IN BETWEEN.

>> THE IRONY IS THE TWO PROJECTS THAT I THINK ARE MY TWO KIND OF HAD THE SAME ISSUES AND LIKE I SAID, WHEN THE CONTRACTOR STARTED DIGGING WE REALIZED THAT THE HAD PILONS TO STOP IT FROM SINKING AND THE SAME THING WITH THE VINCENT POOL AND IT WAS A THEIR 2.3 MILLION PROJECT TO OVER $5 MILLION AND KEEP IN MIND THESE ARE FEDERAL PROJECTS SO YOU HAVE TO GET FUNDING FOR THESE PROJECTS AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE PREVIOUS CONTRACTOR WAS NOT ABLE TO GET THE BANDING FOR THE NEW COST ESTIMATE.

SO WE DID HAVE TO GO OUT AND PUT IT BACK OUT FOR THE NEW COMPANY TO COMPLETE AND FINISH THE WORK.

>> THEY ARE ON TRACK NOW, SO WE´RE EXPECTING SOME GOOD THINGS AND GETTING THE PROJECT BACK INTO CONSTRUCTION SO WE CAN GET IT COMPLETED.

>> AS I´VE ALREADY TOLD THE GOVERNOR IF I CAN GET JOSEPH DONE I WILL BE TURNING IN A TWO-MONTH VACATION.

>> ARE YOU?

>> THAT´S HOW BIG AND SIGNIFICANT, AND AGAIN, I´M CONFIDENT THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO IT TOGETHER AND OUR AGENCIES THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THESE PROJECTS, BUT IT´S LOOKING POSITIVE.

I´M LOOKING FOR THE START DATE AND THE NOTICE TO PROCEED OF THE CONTRACTOR.

>> SOUNDS GREAT.

>> NEXT UP ON THE LIST IS THE D.C.

BALLPARK IN CHRISTIANSON, AND OUR TEAM GOT AN UPDATE.

LET´S TAKE A LISTEN.

>> WHAT WAS EFFECTIVE FROM THE NATIVE REPAIRS BEING DONE HERE IS THE ATHLETICS LITTLE LEAGUE´S TOURNAMENTS AND ADULTS AND MALE AND FEMALES, BASEBALL AND SOFTBALLS AND WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AND THE REPAIRS IS FENCING AND THEY´RE REPAIRING THE FENCING AND ALSO THE DUGOUTS WILL BE REPAIRED AND HOPEFULLY THE COMPLETION WILL BE BY APRIL OF 2024.

THE COMMUNITY CAN EXPECT WHEN ALL OUR REPAIRS ARE FINISHED IS A REFURBISHED FACILITY FOR ALL TO ENJOY.

>> SO YOU KNOW THE BALLPARK IS THE BIGGEST BALLPARK IN THE EAST BAY.

>> YES.

>> THE PREPARES THAT YOU´RE DOING NOW, BUT I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE OTHER SEGMENTS OF THE PROJECT.

SO TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

>> YEAH, SO -- SO LIKE YOU STATED IT IS THE FACILITY THAT HAS A LOT OF THE ACTIVITIES IN THE EAST OF THE ISLAND AND NOT JUST FOR SPORTS AND WHEN I THINK OF THE RECREATION CENTER THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST SOUGHT-AFTER FACILITIES IN ST. CROIX.

WE TALK ABOUT WEDDINGS AND FUNERALS, DANCES AND YOU NAME IT.

WE´VE DONE IT.

WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT FEMA DID GIVE US SOME EXTRA MONIES TO HARDEN THAT STRUCTURE.

A GONE, WE ARE NOT JUST BUILDING FACILITIES BACK TO WHAT THEY WERE AND WE´RE BUILDING THEM BIGGER AND BETTER THAN WHAT THEY WERE BEFORE.

KEEP IN MIND, IT WAS ALSO USED AS A SHELTER DURING ANY DISASTER AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT UPGRADES TO THE SHOWERS AND TO THE ROOF AND ONE OF THE COOL THINGS AND IT´S FEMA THAT WIRED US SOME EXTRA FUNDS TO PURCHASE A GENERATOR FOR THAT FACILITY.

SO WE´LL HAVE POWER THERE.

>> AND WALK US THROUGH THE POWER THAT IT GOT?

OKAY.

>> THE TALK DUGOUTS WERE A BRAND-NEW FENCE AND THE BRAND-NEW LED LIGHTS AND I WAS FORTUNATE TO GET´S GRANT FROM THE GOVERNOR TO BUY BRAND-NEW PLAY GROWTH FUND EQUIPMENT AND ABOUT TEN FACILITIES TERRITORY WIDE WILL SEE A BRAND NEW PLAYGROUND TO DO ADDITIONAL WORK TO THESE FACILITIES.

>> DO YOU KNOW OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD?

>> IN ST. CROIX -- [ INDISCERNIBLE ] >> PARKS PLACE.

INTEGRAL RULE IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE CAN´T GET THROUGH THE ST. CROWE SEGMENT WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT THE LARGEST AND LONGEST-RUNNING LITTLE LEAGUE AND THE EMERALD PLASTIC LITTLE LEAGUE AND WE SPOKE ABOUT THE LEAGUE´S NEW HOME AT THE KRIEGER BALLPARK AND AN EFFORT YOUR DEPARTMENT IS MAKING TO PROVIDE A SAFE PLACE FOR THE FUTURE MAJOR LEAGUERS.

SO LET´S TAKE A LISTEN.

>> THE DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS, PARK AND RECREATION ARE DOING EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE KNOWLEDGEABLE RESOURCES TO CONTINUE THE LITTLE LEAGUE SPA HERE IN THE ISLAND OF ST. CROIX AND IT IS RIGHT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE WATER AND POWER AUTHORITY PLACING NEW -- TO HAVE A SCOREBOARD FOR THE LATENT TOOL TO ALLEVIATE WHERE WE HAVE ISSUES IN THE PAST WHERE WE HAVE SOFTBALL TOURNAMENTS AND EIGHT TO 12 TOURNAMENTS HERE.

AS WE DO PROGRESSION THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, IT IS ONLY NECESSARY AND IMPORTANT THAT OUR FACILITIES AS WELL STEP UP IN TERMS OF WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO OFFER AND NOT ONLY ADULTS, BUT THE CHILDREN AT VIRGIN AIRLINES.

MY HOPE IS TO SEE THAT WE HAVE STATE-OF-THE-ART THINGS THAT WE HAVE FOR THE CHILDREN OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

ONCE AGAIN, THE DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS PARK ARE AWESOME TO CONTINUE LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL IN ST. CROIX.

>> HOW MUCH DID YOU PAY HIM?

>> I DON´T KNOW, BUT I WANT TO SPEAK TO HIM ABOUT ALL OF THE PROJECTS GOING FORWARD.

>> YOU KNOW, HE TALKED ABOUT MAKING SURE YOU HAVE STATE OF THE ART.

A LOT OF THE DAMAGE THAT YOU HAVE IS REPAIRING FEMA´S FENCING AND LIGHTING.

I KNOW YOU´RE DOING A WHOLE LOT MORE.

WHAT´S YOUR VISION AND WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE YOUR PARKS?

>> SPORTS TOURISM IS A BIG THING IN THE COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW.

IT IS ONE OF THE GOVERNOR´S VISION TO MAKE THE VIRGIN ISLANDS WHEN WE´RE TALKING ABOUT SPORTING, VENTS, BUT TO DO THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE FACILITIES THAT WILL LURE THESE EVENTS TO THE TERRITORY.

>> THINGS LIKE THE LIGHTS AND AGAIN T MAY SEEM LIKE A SMALL THING AND THE SYSTEM WHEN YOU TURN THEM UP AND IT TOOK THEM ABOUT 20 MINUTES AND THE WAY, AND YOU KNOW WHAT THEY WILL DO.

JUST THE LED SYSTEMS AND THEY GO UP AND YOU TURN THEM BACK ON AND THEY´RE BACK ON AND THEIR SYSTEM, LIKE I SAID, I CAN CONTROL FROM MY CELL PHONE, BUT JUST HAVING FACILITIES THAT WOULD ACCOMMODATE TEAMS, AND WHETHER ITS FROM OTHER CARIBBEAN ISLANDS OR FROM THE MAINLAND TO COME BACK HERE AND WE HAVE THE AMENITIES AND THE LOANS AND THE BLEACHERS SEATED ARE THE CONCESSIONS AND THOSE ARE THINGS THAT YOU CAN GET THE FACILITY, AND ACCOMMODATE SOME OF THAT, RIGHT?

>> DOMINATE ALL OF IT, AND IT SHOWS THAT IT IS GOING TO BE A STATE OF THE ART FACILITY.

WE HAVE THE LOCKER ROOMS AND THE DRESSING ROOMS AND THE ROOMS TO STORE EQUIPMENT AND THE LED LIGHTS AND WE HAVE THE REGULATED DISTANCES WHICH IS IMPORTANT.

A LOT OF TEAMS WHEN THEY´RE TRAVELING THEY WANT 300 FEET AND MORE TO THE FACILITY.

PROBABLY JOSEPH WILL BE MORE THAN 300 FEET.

SO WE´LL BE ABLE TO GET A LOT OF THOSE TOURNAMENTS THAT DO DESTINATION TRAVELS AND WE´LL BE ABLE TO SECURE SOME OF THOSE.

>> SO, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT IN ADDITION YOU TALK ABOUT THE COURTS DURING THE LITTLE LEAGUE AS WELL AND WE ALSO HAVE PLANS TO RESURFACE THE BASKETBALL COURTS OUT THERE.

>> AND I WILL BE THE FIRST TO SAY THAT THOSE SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE BEFORE, AND I TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT, BUT WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THOSE FINISHED AND COMPLETED.

AGAIN, THOSE COURTS ARE HEAVILY USED BY THE COMMUNITY AND THE BASKETBALL COURT.

YOU HAVE THE TWO PADDLEBALL COURTS AND TWO TENNIS BALL COURTS AND ONCE THAT IS DONE THEY´LL BE COMPLETED AND THAT´S THE LAST THING WE NEED TO DO TO DO A RIBBON CUTTING AND WE ARE 90% COMPLETED.

>> ANOTHER ONE IN OUR CROSS IS AS COMPLETED AND THEY´RE RESPONSIBLE FOR PARKS AND ALL OF THESE COMMUNITY CENTERS THAT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH IF YOU WANT TO USE A COMMUNITY CENTERS, WE HAVE TWO COMMUNITY CENTER PROJECTS ON THE BOOKS AND ONE ON ST. CROIX AND ONE ON ST. JOHN´S.

TELL US WHERE YOU ARE WITH THESE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED COMMUNITY CENTERS.

TOTAL PROFIT.

>> I´LL START WITH THE STATE PROFIT AND IN THE PAST THEY WERE BEING USED AS -- I THINK IT WAS FOR HUMAN SERVICES DAY CARE.

IT WAS A DAY CARE.

WE WENT TO FEMA AND WE ASKED THEM TO HARDEN THAT STRUCTURE.

A LOT OF THE OLD STRUCTURE WASN´T TO CODE.

SO WE GOT A LOT OF A & U WORK AND ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEER WORK TO STRENGTHEN THE ROOF AND STRENGTHEN THE BUILDING.

SO WE ARE JUST WAITING FOR THESE TO COME BACK AND IN ORDER TO BE APPROVED SO WE CAN PUT THE SCOPE OUT TO WAIT FOR POTENTIAL CONTRACTORS TO DO THE WORK.

>> OKAY.

WE ALSO HAVE ST. JOHN COMMUNITY CENTER.

>> YEAH.

WE´VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD ON THAT AND AGAIN, IT´S IN THE A & E PHASE, AND THANK GOD, THERE IS MITIGATION FOR THE WORK THAT THEY´VE BEEN DOING WITH US TRYING TO HELP US GET EXTRA FUNDS, BUT AGAIN, ST. JOHN IS KIND OF UNIQUE BECAUSE MOST OF THEIR FACILITIES ARE GOING TO BE THE ONLY ONE OF ITS KIND ON ST. JOHN´S.

THERE´S ONE RECREATION CENTER IN ST. JOHN WHICH IS SPORTS PARK AND RECREATION, SO YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO GET THEM SOMETHING NICE AND UPGRADED, STATE OF THE ART, WHERE THEY CAN HAVE A FACILITY THAT THEY CAN BE VERY PROUD OF.

>> SO YOU´VE HAVE MONEY FROM MANY DIFFERENT RESOURCES AND IS IT STRONG OR SOME OF THE LONG-TERM RECOVERY OF THE ORGANIZATION, I THINK THAT´S THE RIGHT TERM ON ST. JOHN.

THEY ARE ALL VERY INTERESTED IN DOING THAT AND WHAT TYPE OF PARTNERSHIPS THAT THEY HAVE THAT HELPS YOU TO MAINTAIN -- >> VERY EARLY ON, CITY STRONG CAME ABOARD AND THEY WAS VERY VESTED INTO THE COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW, THESE PROJECTS TAKE MONTHS AND SOMETIMES YOU GET ALL OF THE MONEY FROM FEMA AND SOMETIMES YOU DON´T AND SOME OF THE FACILITIES I DID NOT RECEIVE 100% OF THE FUNDING AND SO IT DO TACK A COLLABORATION OR A PARTNERSHIP WITH NON-PROFITS OR THE COMMUNITY TO ASSIST US AND CITY STRONG HAS BEEN VERY INTEGRAL IN HELPING US WITH NOT JUST THE RECREATION CENTER.

YOU ALSO HAVE THE -- THE FACILITY AND THE BEACH AND IT´S ESCAPING MY MIND RIGHT NOW, BUT I KNOW YOU´RE GOING TO HELP ME.

OH, MY GOD, IT´S GOING TO COME BACK TO ME, BUT YOU KNOW, WE DO A GREAT JOB OF LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY AND SEEING WHERE WE CAN DO PARTNERSHIPS WHERE THEY CAN HELP US GET SOME OF THESE FACILITIES FIXED.

>> SO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ALSO AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES DO YOU HAVE, FIRST, EDUCATION TO PARTNER AND PROVIDE SOME OF THE RESOURCES FOR THE COMMUNITY?

>> YEAH, SO YOU KNOW, I WORK VERY, VERY GOOD WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, A LOT OF OUR PROGRAMS AND THEY DEAL WITH THEM IN SCHOOL AND WHEN THEY GET OUT OF SCHOOL THEY SAY, COME ON, IT´S ALWAYS TIME TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.

>> SO, YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER WELLS, LIKE I SAID, SHE´S A BIG ADVOCATE OF RECREATION AND THEY´RE WILLING TO ASSIST AND THEY GOT A BIG BOOST ALSO FROM THE NATIONAL PARK BECAUSE AFTER THE HURRICANE, WE HAD TO GIVE UP WINSTON WELLS BY FAR TO PUT SOME MODULARS ON IT AND FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND WAS ABLE TO FORM AN MOU WITH THE NATIONAL PARK WHERE THEY GAVE US PERMISSION TO UTILIZE THEIR FACILITY SO WE NOW MANAGE THE PARK AND THE NATIONAL PARK.

>> YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF BIG PROJECTS THAT ARE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED AND WE KNOW IT IS ONE OF THOSE OTHER PROJECTS THAT YOU HAVE THREE DIFFERENT PROJECTS ON THAT ONE PARTICULAR SITE.

SO TELL US WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE´RE GOING NEXT.

>> SO FOR US, I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE I EVER WENT CAMPING.

I´M GOING TO MAKE SURE WHEN THIS FACILITY OPENS I´M GOING TO GO CAMPING.

I HAVE TO MAKE SURE I HAVE TENTS.

I HAVE TO MAKE SURE I GO.

>> REALLY?

>> EVENING WITH THE SNAKES AND THE SUN?

>> I´M GOING TO TAKE A CHANCE AND IT´S A FACILITY THAT BRINGS OUR FAMILIES TOGETHER AND PEOPLE GO OUT TO THE BEACH AND GO OUT TO DO PICNICS AND YOU SEE A LOT OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO STUFF OUT THERE.

IT´S ANOTHER FACILITY THAT WE DIDN´T JUST WANT TO FIX AND BUILD THAT AS IT WAS.

WE WANTED TO DO STRONGER AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE PAVILIONS THAT ARE THERE NOW, THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL.

>> YES.

>> I HAVE TO THANK THE CONTRACTOR FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DID AT THE PAVILION.

WE HAVE SOME ADA PARKING SPOTS.

WE HAVE SOME FENCING AROUND THE FACILITY AND NEW PICNIC TABLES AND BARBECUE STANDS.

SO THAT´S JUST THE FIRST PHASE THAT WE´RE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW TO HAVE THE CONCESSION WHICH WAS ANOTHER PROJECT THAT WE´RE GOING TO DO AND WE DID RECEIVE SOME 1.3 OR $1.6 MILLION TO DO THE CONCESSION AT CRAMER´S PARK.

SO WE´RE LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING THAT PROJECT STARTED AND UPGRADING OUR FACILITY FARTHER THAN IT IS RIGHT NOW.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU CAN TAKE US THERE.

[ INDISCERNIBLE ] THEY WERE ORIGINALLY FEMA-FUNDED PROJECTS THAT YOU HAVE NOW TAKEN THE OPPORTUNITY AS THE PROJECTS TO LOOK AT ANOTHER LIST.

GIVE THE PEOPLE AN UPDATE, IN ADDITION TO GRIFFITH AND THE POOL, YOU ARE THE HEAD IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, SO TELL US WHERE THESE PARKS ARE?

>> WE RECEIVE AND IF YOU PUT THEM TOGETHER, SOME $6 MILLION FOR THE TRACK AND IT´S 3.2 AND ANOTHER 3.6 ON THE JAMES.

VERY EARLY ON, WE WAS FORTUNATE THAT WE HAD A PRIVATE INVESTOR THAT WAS GOING TO AGREE TO TAKE OVER THE FACILITIES AND WAS GOING TO RENOVATE BOTH FACILITIES BECAUSE OF SOME LEGAL ISSUES THAT FELL THROUGH, WHERE BOTH TRACKS WERE SEPARATED.

WE DID HAVE ONE COMPANY DECIDING THAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO ST. CROIX AND WE HAVE ANOTHER PRIVATE COMPANY THAT SAID THAT WE WERE GOING TO DO ST. THOMAS.

SO FORTUNATELY, BECAUSE IT WAS A 428 PROJECT, THOSE FUNDS ARE STILL THERE TO UPGRADE THOSE FACILITIES FURTHER OR I HAD A CHANCE TO PUT IN A REQUEST TO WHAT THE TRANSPORTER´S MONEY AND THE FACILITY WHICH HAS NOT BEEN DONE YET.

RACE, WE HAVE BIG NEWS THAT´S COMING SOON AND WE´RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT THERE.

>> I WILL SAY, FOR HORSE ENTHUSIASTS TERRITORY WIDE, AND I DON´T WANT TO JUST SAY ONE ISLAND, THAT I THINK IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE WE COULD SEE HORSE RACING IN THE TERRITORY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU HEARD IT HERE.

THE RECOVERY IN FOCUS THAT COMMISSIONER WRIGHT AND THE GOVERNOR AS WELL AND BOTH OF YOU WILL HAVE A BIG MOVE WITH HORSE RACING IN THE TERRITORY, BUT WE ARE ALWAYS VERY HAPPY TO UNDERSTAND THE PROGRESS, THE CHALLENGES, BUT MOST OF ALL THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT YOU´VE HAD.

YOU HAD OVER 53 PROJECTS, TERRITORY WIDE IN ADDITION TO YOUR REGULAR DAY JOB.

SO YOU KNOW, WE CLAIMED 2024 TO BE YOUR YEAR, LESS THE RIBBON CUTTING AND WE WANT YOU TO COME , TOO, AND HAVE APPLE CIDER AND SNACKS.

>> WATER.

>> WATER.

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A BALL ON EVERY COURT, OKAY?

AT LEAST THAT, AND I NEED YOU TO GO BACK AND FIND THE FOOTAGE BECAUSE I KNOW THAT SHOT IN ST. JOHN, AS WELL.

YES.

>> I DON´T REMEMBER THAT.

>> I DON´T EVEN REMEMBER YOU TAKING A SHOT.

>> YOU WOULD SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT IT IS GOOD TO GET TO THIS POINT WHERE WE ARE SEEING THESE FACILITIES AND GET TO COMPLETION AND THIS IS NOT A ONE-MAN TEAM AND IT´S NEVER BEEN A ONE-MAN TEAM AND THEY´VE NEVER HELD THE -- AND IT´S NOT JUST THE FIRST RIBBON CUTTING AND TO GET THE TEN THAT WE´LL GET THIS YEAR.

>> TEN!

YOU HEARD IT HERE.

I WANT TO THANK THE VIEWERS THAT CONTINUE TO REACH OUT TO US ON SOCIAL MEDIA AFTER THE SHOW.

NOT ONLY ARE WE SEEING QUESTIONS COME IN ON FACEBOOK, BUT WE´VE BEEN GETTING SOME TRAFFIC TO OUR INBOX AT ODR.COM.

ONE OF THE LATEST QUESTIONS WAS WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE WYNN MUSEUM RESTORATION PROJECT?

WELL, THE ANSWER IS COMING UP SOON RIGHT AFTER THESE MESSAGES -- NO.

THE WORK HAS BEEN DEVELOPED FOR THE PROJECT, AND THE SINGLE LANDMARK IS WORKING ON GETTING SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR FEMA BECAUSE THE AMOUNT THAT WAS ORIGINALLY FUNDED WAS NOT ENOUGH FOR THE REPAIRS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN AND THE LANDMARK SOCIETY IS WORKING WITH THE FIRM TO GET THOSE DRAWINGS DONE AND PUT THAT WORK OUT TO DATE.

SO THAT PROJECT IS MOVING FORWARD, BUT DEFINITELY THERE´S WORK BEING DONE AND WE´LL KEEP YOU UPDATED ONCE WE SEE THOSE SOLICITATIONS OUT IN OUR PROCUREMENTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR OUR RECOVERY.

I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER WHITE, FOR BEING A PART OF OUR SHOW TODAY.

WE HAVE A LOT THAT´S BEEN GOING ON.

I JUST WANT YOU TO TAKE A MOMENT AND SHARE YOUR OVERALL VISION FOR THE DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW?

WHEN WE TALK OR LOOK BACK AND TALK ABOUT THE TIME WHEN COMMISSIONER WHITE WAS COMMISSIONER, WHAT WILL THEY SAY?

WHAT DO YOU WANT THEM TO SAY ABOUT THE TIME WHEN COMMISSIONER WHITE WAS HERE?

[ INDISCERNIBLE ] >> FOR THE STUDENT THAT KNOWS WHERE MY HEART IS AND WHY I GO SO HARD FOR THESE PROJECTS, AGAIN, I´M A PRODUCT OF RECREATION.

I GREW UP IN THESE SAME PROGRAMS AND I WENT TO PARKS AND RECREATION SUMMER CAMP.

I -- I -- I STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM AND NOW WE´RE HERE.

I REALLY STARTED FROM THE BOTTOM.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> I WAS ONE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO WAS A RECREATION LEADER AND WORKED MY WAY UP.

FOR ME THIS ISN´T JUST A JOB.

I´M VERY VESTED IN GETTING THESE FACILITIES UP AND GETTING THEM BETTER, BECAUSE WITH FACILITIES AND WE CAN HELP THE NEXT GENERATION OF THE NEXT TIM DUNCAN AND CUMMINGS AND WHATEVER SPORT IT IS, THEY HAVE TO ACHIEVE IT AND YOU HAVE OTHER FACILITIES WHERE THEY CAN PRACTICE AND PLAY ON.

FOR ME, I DON´T LOOK AT LEGACY, BUT I WANT PEOPLE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, COMMISSIONER WHITE WAS ABLE TO GET THESE FACILITIES BACK UP AND RUNNING.

>> YOU REALLY WANT TO BE ABLE TO GET THEM.

SO IF I TAKE THEM, LET´S TAKE THIS AND LET´S TALK ABOUT WHAT IS ON THE HORIZON?

>> SO WE´RE GETTING SKILLS.

[ INDISCERNIBLE ] >> WE´RE GETTING THE POOL.

>> YEAH.

>> AND WORK´S BEING DONE.

>> THAT´S THE NEXT THING WE CAN DO SO WE CAN START SEEING WORK.

>> OKAY.

AND THEN YOU´RE PUSHING THAT, WE WILL KEEP PUSHING THAT THROUGH.

>> YEAH.

>> PROBABLY EARLY NEXT YEAR?

THIS YEAR?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> WITH EACH PROJECT WHETHER IT´S MATERIEL OR WHAT NOT, AND I´M GOING TO GO LATE THIS YEAR OR EARLY NEXT YEAR TO OVERSEE THAT PROJECT.

>> AND THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY ARE ASKING ME ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITY CENTER, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE I PUT A PLUG IN FOR MI GENTE.

>> I SPEAK TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS A LOT, YOU KNOW.

WE JUST GOT THE SCOREBOARD IN CROCKET, AND I DIDN´T EVEN MENTION THAT.

THE NEW SCOREBOARD WAS PLACED UP THERE AND THE ELECTRICITY AND THE BOARD IS LIGHTING UP AND WE JUST HAVE TO FINISH PUTTING UP THE LED PROJECT AND THEN MOVE ON UP TO THE TOP WHERE WE CAN START THE COMMUNITY CENTER.

>> YOU STILL HAVE WORK FOR CLOSING OUT RENAULT JACKSON.

>> WE WERE WAITING FOR SOME APPROVAL VOES FOR FEMA AND THE LIGHT WORK ON THE DUGOUTS, BUT I ESTIMATE THAT PROJECT BE SEEN IN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS.

>> AND YOU HAVE THE WORK OVER AT CANAGUITA.

>> YEAH.

A VERY NEW PROJECT AND I´M THINKING AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

COMING FROM THE WEST AGAIN, YOU HAVE THE TERRACE THAT YOU WILL FINISH THIS YEAR.

>> CARMEN TERRACE, THERE WILL BE A RIBBON CUTTING.

>> AND THEN -- >> THE RIBBON CUTTING AND WE´RE JUST WAITING FOR THEM.

IF WE CAN GET THEM IN WITHIN A MONTH THE CONTRACTOR WILL REACH OUT.

>> AND THEN GIFFORD BALLPARK.

>> YES.

WE HAVE SOME WORK TO DO, AND I´M LOOKING AT THE END OF THIS YEAR.

>> ALVIN MARTIN?

>> BY SUMMERTIME, I THINK WE SHOULD GET ALVIN MARTIN UP AND RUNNING.

>> OKAY.

WHAT ELSE AM I MISSING?

>> HOW ABOUT EAST SIDE?

>> WE HAVE ROBERTS AND IN THAT FACILITY THERE WILL BE SOME LIGHTING.

AND SMUT.

AND A & E HAS BEEN AWARDED FOR THAT FACILITY ONCE WE CAN GET OUT AND THAT SHOULD TAKE NO MORE THAN FOUR TO FIVE MONTHS.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE YOUR HANS FULL.

>> AND LIKE I SAID, I HAVE AN AWESOME TEAM THAT WORKS WITH ME TO MAKE SURE THIS WILL HAPPEN BETWEEN US AND ODR ANDDS FULL.

>> AND LIKE I SAID, I HAVE AN AWESOME TEAM THAT WORKS WITH ME TO MAKE SURE THIS WILL HAPPEN BETWEEN US AND ODR AND DPW, AND I RELY ON THOSE PEOPLE SO MUCH AND ONCE WE CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER WE´LL SEE THE FINISH IN OUR HORIZON.

>> YOU KNOW, OUR COLLEAGUES ARE SIGNING US ON, HOW MANY YEARS AGO NOW?

>> IT WAS MORE THAN A YEAR.

>> 2020?

>> 2020, AND NOW YOU HAVE ALL THESE PROJECTS THAT YOU WILL GET DONE AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR RIBBON CUTTING AND I´M ORDERING A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN WATER.

>> AND HOPEFULLY DON´T TAKE THREE YEARS BEFORE I´M INVITED BACK.

>> NO, MAN.

ONE YEAR.

ONE YEAR FROM THIS TIME WE´LL CELEBRATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU´VE DONE.

THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE THAT TUNED IN FOR THIS EPISODE.

WE´VE HEARD UPDATES ON THE TERRITORY´S PROJECTS AND FROM COMMISSIONER WHITE AND OF COURSE, THE LATEST UPDATES ON THE RECOVERY.

FOR MORE INFORMATION FIND US ONLINE AT OSCIODR.COM AND KEEP THE DISCUSSION GOING AT FACEBOOK.COM/WTJX.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE´LL CONTINUE TO BUILD A LEGACY OF RESILIENCE.

♫♫ ♫♫ ♫♫ ♫♫ ♫♫ >> THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS BOARD, STAFF OR UNDERWRITERS.

♫♫ ♫♫