The Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park is the British Virgin Islands' (BVI) premier cruise and lifestyle destination, located in the capital, Road Town. Reopened as a modernized facility in 2016 and renamed in 2019 to honor the late Hon. Cyril B. Romney—a pioneer of cruise tourism—the complex celebrated its 10th anniversary in February 2026. Photo:VINO/ File

Work has begun on the installation of a permanent Astro Turf surface at the Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park, resulting in the temporary closure of The Lawn at the park. Photo: Facebook/ JTV

The closure took effect on the night of Wednesday, February 25, 2026, and is expected to remain in place until approximately March 15, 2026. This temporary restriction is necessary to allow for the safe and efficient completion of the project.

Closure essential for infrastructure enhancement

According to the management of Tortola Pier Park Ltd, access to the area will be interrupted during this period; however, they emphasised that the closure is essential for a long-planned infrastructure enhancement aimed at significantly improving the durability and year-round appearance of the space.

This project is funded through a partnership with Virgin Islands Search and Rescue (VISAR). The management expressed appreciation for this collaboration, noting that it has enabled the advancement of an important capital improvement that will benefit the wider community for years to come.

 Project steps 

The project will involve several steps, including the removal of the existing turf and soil, the installation of a compacted gravel base and weed barrier, the laying of the new Astro Turf system, and a final site cleanup. 

This upgrade replaces the previous grass surface, which suffered significant wear after hosting high-traffic seasonal events like VISAR’s Winter Wonderland. The installation was delayed from its original late 2025 schedule due to shipping congestion, but is now actively underway as of late February 2026.