American Memorial Park needs $2 million for facelift

Additional government funding is needed to begin a major facelift of the American Memorial Park that community leaders hope will help boost the tourism sector and draw more visitors into the CNMI.

A joint advisory committee of private and government officials tasked with the development project lobbied the Legislature yesterday for $2 million more to match initial funding secured for the ambitious plan.

At the same time, the panel unveiled its project which will complement a revitalization plan for the Garapan tourist district to keep up with improvement done in neighboring islands, particularly Guam, that have offered new attractions to their visitors.

A partnership between the CNMI and U.S. National Park Service, the facelift of the 133-acre park has been in the planning board by the Development Advisory Committee chaired by Lt. Gov. Jesus R. Sablan and comprised by other government officials and private sector leaders.

It will include four major projects — construction of a visitor/cultural center, a memorial garden, a performing arts center and track and field facility.

Designed as destination development, it is envisioned to keep up with similar projects in the Pacific, such as the Two Lovers Point and Latte Stone Park on Guam as well as the Dole Plantation on Oahu.

Marian Aldan Pierce, president of DFS Galleria Saipan and a member of the committee, underscored the need to undertake the project, noting the continuous decline in tourist arrivals in the CNMI and the efforts by other destinations to offer new attractions.

“We need to clean house. We need to have more attractions,” she told in an interview after the brief presentation. “It will add more things for the visitors to do while they are here.”

The federally-operated park, which at present lures up to 800,000 visitors per year, is the best place to build these new attractions because of its central location.

It is within walking distance of several hotels on Saipan and is a focal point of island activities as evidenced by various community events held within its vast compound.

According to Ms. Pierce, this will complement the Garapan Revitalization Project which the island government has unveiled to enhance the tourist district.

“This is something that we should have started last year. Hopefully, we will start in the beginning of 2001,” she said, adding they expect to fast-track the park project.

Chuck Sayon, NPS scout ranger, said islanders should get actively involved as the project will benefit not only the tourists, but primarily the CNMI people.

Mike Sablan, the governor’s chief finance advisor, pointed out the $2 million additional funds is needed to jump-start the plan by constructing infrastructure support, like drainage overlay, lighting and tree-planting.

Both the Commonwealth Development Authority and the Marianas Public Land Trust provided initial $2 million from proceeds from previous bond flotation.