Friends of Jockey’s Ridge Supports Park Preservation
On September 16, 2022 a news article appeared in the Outer Banks Voice stating “After COVID delay, plans move forward for Rogallo Museum at Jockey’s Ridge. ” The Friends of Jockey’s Ridge received a number of inquiries about the potential of this development at Jockey’s Ridge State Park.
While a Rogallo Museum would be a wonderful tribute to the Rogallos, The Friends of Jockey’s Ridge have concerns regarding its location. As The Friends of Jockeys Ridge, our mission is to support, enhance and promote Jockey’s Ridge State Park as a significant geologic feature of the Outer Banks, North Carolina.
Since the initial article additional media coverage has led to additional questions and concerns:
Outer Banks Voice 10.7.22
Opposition surfaces to building Rogallo Museum at Jockey’s Ridge State Park
NC Policy Watch 10.14.22
NC Policy Watch 10.18.22
Friends of Jockey’s Ridge remains steadfast in its mission to preserve and protect Jockey’s Ridge. On October 17, 2022 the Friends of Jockey’s Ridge Board of Directors unanimously adopted the attached resolution against The Rogallo Museum to be located at Jockey’s Ridge State Park.
Join Friends of Jockey’s Ridge to help preserve and protect Jockey’s Ridge. Become a member, make a donation, register to volunteer, and sign up to receive updates from Friends of Jockey’s Ridge today.
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Resolution
Against The Rogallo Museum to be Located at Jockey’s Ridge State Park
WHEREAS The Friends of Jockey’s Ridge (f/k/a The People to Preserve Jockey’s Ridge – Save Our Sand Dunes ‘SOS’) is a non-profit formed in the early 1970’s when the dunes were threatened with imminent development.
WHEREAS The Friends of Jockey’s Ridge’s mission is to support and promote public appreciation for Jockey’s Ridge State Park’s natural history and foster concern for the conservation of its unique and significant geological features to North Carolina and the United States.
WHEREAS in 1974, Jockey’s Ridge along with nearby Nags Head Woods was designated as a National Natural Landmark (“NNL”) by the U.S. Department of Interior.
WHEREAS each year the natural status of Jockey’s Ridge, Nags Head Woods and all designated NNLs throughout the United States is reported to the U.S. Secretary of the Interior who reviews and can remove any NNL designation if the resource for which the site was designated are lost or destroyed.
WHEREAS in 1975 Jockey’s Ridge was sanctioned as a North Carolina State Park with the land for the Park being fully purchased through collected (local) donations, The Nature Conservancy, Federal matching funds and State appropriations.
WHEREAS the primary mission of the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation is to inspire citizens and visitors of the conservation and protection of natural beauty, ecological features, recreational and cultural resources specific to any State Park.
WHEREAS the Friends of Jockey’s Ridge specifically ask the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation to honor its mission to conservation of Jockey’s Ridge State Park as an intact, naturally evolving ecosystem protected from development.
WHEREAS the Rogallo Foundation has submitted a Memorandum of Agreement (“MOA”) to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation for consideration in allowing a 12,000 square foot museum to be built on the grounds of State Park which is in contradiction to Jockey’s Ridge federal and state natural preservation missions by both The Friends of Jockey’s Ridge and the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation.
WHEREAS any development on Jockey’s Ridge State Park property assures for unknown environmental impacts specific to the critical and increasingly limited habitat of native plants and animals of the maritime forest and the naturally evolving sand dunes that even at present require conservation consideration from the harsh coastal environment.
WHEREAS the proposed Rogallo Museum is a multi-million-dollar project that will require initial and ongoing fundraising that proposes a risk of being a non-funded structure (completed or partially completed) outside of environmental consideration and state obligation.
WHEREAS allowing this development on Jockey’s Ridge State Park will ultimately and irrevocably compromise the natural integrity of Jockey’s Ridge and its defined purpose.
WHEREAS the Friends of Jockey’s Ridge adopts this Resolution and REJECTS to support the development of the proposed museum on lands original to the Jockey’s Ridge State Park and,
THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Friends of Jockey’s Ridge do not support the Rogallo Foundation’s request nor their MOA now before the State of North Carolina for development of an independent museum on state-owned lands located at Jockey’s Ridge State Park, Nags Head, North Carolina.
This the 18th day of October, 2022
Michael O’Brien, Chairman
Jeanne Brook, Acting Secretary
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