The Plan
What is your vision for the undeveloped areas of the island?
Jekyll Island’s natural and cultural resources must be preserved and enhanced (and appropriately highlighted) in order to provide a unique visitor destination and to meet our goal to create an environmental gateway island for Georgia’s coast. Our plan proposes a way to achieve the benefits of environmental and economic sustainability in a manner that protects and enhances the Island. It is fitting that 75% of the island is undevelopable, as determined by a combination of three state laws. It is critical that investments in the island are made in a comprehensive fashion that knits the assets together into a whole cloth – a place that resonates with visitors who value environmental integrity, historic landmarks, education and cultural amenities. Our approach presented in the master plan for the Village is part of a much larger strategy and management plan that responds to the Authority’s request for a long term, island-wide vision of a public private partnership. It is critical that the initial phase be seen in context with the current investments and facilities and how those will evolve over time. While our specific plans do not focus on areas outside of the RFP footprint and adjacent land, our ideas about the rest of the island include 1) the consolidation and reorganization of the development areas to create a mid-island greenway that reconnects the inland marsh, freshwater wetland and woodland habitat; 2) responsible restoring and expanding of the Historic District to create additional amenities and public education opportunities; 3) redevelopment of the water park area into an environmentally responsive attraction with perhaps additional recreational components; 4) conserving, enhancing, and providing appropriately sensitive access to the southern and northern conservation zones. We intend to work in close concert with the JIA and the public on these and our future efforts.
Tagged: jekyll island, revitalization, development, environment, economic impact, jekyll island authority, public