Daily News Photos by SEAN McCOY People listen at the Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park annual meeting on Sunday afternoon at Cinnamon Bay.

ST. THOMAS - The V.I. National Park will seek to nearly double its annual operating budget in order to pay for much needed capital improvements and projects, V.I. National Park Superintendent Mark Hardgrove said on Sunday.

"With our funding shortfalls, we are only able to fund 65 of our 76 authorized positions with our existing budget and, as each of you know, operational costs rise substantially each year on the islands," he said in his State of the National Park Address at Cinnamon Bay.

Hardgrove said the park's current operating budget is about $4.9 million - which also includes V.I. Coral Reef National Monument - and he hopes to increase it up to $8 million.

"In addition to staffing shortfalls, the park faces a maintenance backlog of $22 million at today's costs. These funds are needed to care for roads, trails, interpretive signs, boat docks, moorings, visitor centers, and other support facilities," he said.

One such project includes re-paving North Shore Road, which has an estimated cost of $2.9 million.

Gov. John deJongh Jr., left, and Park Superintendent Mark Hardgrove sit side by side.

Adequate funding is vital for the V.I. National Park system, which serves more than 1 million visitors a year.

Requests for project funding have been submitted to the National Park this year, which will help the Virgin Islands parks compete for National Park funding, he said.

While Hardgrove has been in the top job for just four months, he brings to the table more than 35 years of experience in park and facility management. Hardgrove was park manager in Puerto Rico for 11 years and served as superintendent for V.I. National Park for a two-month stint in 1995 following Hurricane Marilyn.

"Over the years, I have worked in some national treasures, none of which were as special to me as the Virgin Islands parks," he told about 100 people attending the meeting. "Not only are these the most beautiful National Park Service areas, but we have some of the finest staff, the most professional friends group, and the strongest partners I have ever had the pleasure to work with."

Hardgrove said that volunteers donated more than 10,000 hours in support of park programs in last year.

A volunteer honored on Sunday by the National Park and the St. John-based Friends of the National Park nonprofit was Jeff Chabot, who developed and oversees a trail maintenance program.

"Thank you for your determination and hard work," Joe Kessler, president of Friends of the National Park, said to Chabot on Sunday.

Kessler said that members of the nonprofit are proud to take an active role in the overall preservation and maintenance of the park through raising of funds for myriad programs and volunteering.

Kessler said he hopes to increase the amount of funding raised to $900,000 in 2008, which would beat 2007's level of about $725,000.

The nonprofit also honored Laurel Brannick, an education specialist with the National Park, for her work with children in recreational and educational programs.

Gov. John deJongh Jr. also attended the event, and he praised the work volunteers have done.

- Contact Tim Fields at 774-8772 ext. 364 or e-mail tfields@dailynews.vi.