Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Why is there a fence now erected around the shade tree and surrounding green area next to Lions Park playground?

Samoa News was told that an amphitheater designed by Silva Construction and slated to be built by them is why Silva erected the fence.

Apparently the Department of Commerce (DOC) has taken to heart the Pula & Pulu Administration’s intent to spend federal grant funds before or by their spending deadline — spend it or lose it — by going forward with a project — it’s for a concrete amphitheater. Spending deadline is this coming May for the CDBG funds.

The PNRS meeting for the project was held last week, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. It’s unknown what comments were made concerning the use of public land —  but it would seem there are no environmental concerns as a fence surrounding the area to be used was erected on Friday, Feb. 14th. 

The area is between the comsat station and Lions Park playing ground.

It’s also the location of the last shade tree and green area in the Pala Lagoon area. The trees that once populated the waterfront were removed by government, due to an eroding shoreline.

The question becomes what effect this project — it’s all concrete — will have on the surrounding shoreline? And was there a public meeting about the project? After all, government land is “public” land and there should be public input when building on ‘their’ lands. Where is the Parks & Recreation Commission? What was their input? And what community needs is the amphitheater suppose to meet exactly?

“Don't it always seem to go

That you don't know what you got 'til it's gone?

They paved paradise and put up a parking lot”  [Songwriter: Joni Mitchell 1970s]