Bryan signs law creating Virgin Islands territorial park system

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. signed legislation on August 9, 2022, creating a Territorial Park System and revising the Territorial Park System Trust Fund Board, according to Government House.

At a signing ceremony at Government House on St. Croix, Bryan also named four members to the seven-member board: Planning and Natural Resources Commissioner Jean-Pierre Oriol, Sports, Parks and Recreation Commissioner Calvert White, Carlos Tesitor Jr. of St. Croix and Conn Davis II of St. Thomas.

Government House said the legislation, sponsored by Sen. Samuel Carrion as Bills No. 34-0267 and 34-0268, established the park system and the trust fund board.

According to the administration, the law allows the Virgin Islands government to place more than 30 properties into the Territorial Parks System for uses including beaches, recreation, hiking trails, nature preserves and parks protected from commercial development.

Properties identified in the announcement included Great Salt Pond, Cramer’s Park and Parcel No. 5 and 56 at Salt River on St. Croix; Oppenheimer Beach and Steven Cay on St. John; and Cas Cay, Bovoni Cay, No. 1 Neltjeberg, a portion of Water Island at Sprat Bay, and No. 6 and 7 Hassel Island on St. Thomas.

Government House said the legislation also would support implementation of the Maroon Sanctuary Zone on the west end of St. Croix.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/governor-bryan-signs-legislation-creating-territorial-park-system/