Public Park Planned For Annie’s Bay In St David’s
The St David’s Island Historical Society plans to create a public park at Annie’s Bay, and the Conservation Management Plan has approval of the BLMC and the support of Google.
A spokesperson said, “The St David’s Island Historical Society [St DIHS] has formed an agreement with The Bermuda Land Management Company [BLMC] for permission to create a public park at Annie’s Bay [zoned Park] including the beach and the memorial site, situated south of Orange Hole Road. The St DIHS has completed a detailed Conservation Management Plan prepared by landscape architect David Cox. The Conservation Management Plan has approval of the BLMC, and the support of Google.”
The Annie’s Bay Memorial bronze on limestone Installed by the St DIHS 3 years ago
The proposed plan to create the public park was spearheaded by President of the St DIHS, Richard Spurling who commented “Prior to 1941 Annie’s Bay was the home of Tommy Fox, who was known to Islanders as the ‘Uncrowned King of St Davids’ and Mr. Fox declared that ‘St Davids is the most beautiful place to live, free and plentiful. I will never leave it’. Further, on Fox’s Hill above the bay many of the Islanders [whalers, fishermen, pilots, gig rowers and farmers] lived including the Foxs, Lambs, and Pitchers. This bay is the only remaining natural bay of old Southside, St Davids out of 8 bays, the others destroyed by the construction of the US Base in 1941.
“Accordingly, the area is sacrosanct for many islanders hence the limestone memorial to their sacrifice erected by the St DIHS a couple of years ago. This park will join the many Parks and Nature Reserves in St Davids forming a continuous green belt full of history, views, beaches and nature trails.”
Minister and Deputy Premier Zane DeSilva said, “The Ministry of Housing & Municipalities, and the BLMC fully support this Annie’s Bay project and commend the St DIHS for taking on this multiyear task. The Ministry and the BLMC thank Google for their support and the St DIHS for their work in undertaking this project to facilitate this park for the public and the heritage of old St Davids.”
Richard Spurling, President of St DIHS further commented, “The St DIHS is excited to begin this project and suggest naming the park The Annie’s Bay Memorial Park. The project will be managed by Ian Pitcher, an Islander, and a St DIHS founding director.
“We are grateful for Google’s support and BLMC’s permission, without which this would not be possible. We are confident that the Islanders will join us with volunteer support to remove invasives and plant cedars and palmettos and other endemics/natives keeping the cost to a minimum.”
A Google spokesperson remarked, “We are pleased to support this important project for St Davids and to assist the St DIHS. We look forward to the day when we all can return here at Annie’s Bay to dedicate and open this new park.”
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