Cramer Park Beach on St. Croix's East End. By. V.I. CONSORTIUM
ST. CROIX — On Thursday, local officials and community members gathered at Cramer's Park on St. Croix to celebrate the reopening of the park's pavilions. Governor Albert Bryan Jr. and other dignitaries were on hand to cut the ribbon and officially welcome the public to the renovated facilities.
The pavilions at Cramer's Park, named after former governor Lawrence William Cramer, have long been a popular spot for local families and tourists to enjoy St. Croix’s legendary beach camping culture – “a place where memories are made, laughter echoes, and joy knows no bound,” according to Calvert White, commissioner of the Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation. “It’s not just a stretch of sand and sea, it’s a canvas of celebrations,” he continued.
Meanwhile, Senate President Novelle Francis called Cramer’s Park “a shining star in our territorial park system…and a reminder of the importance of protecting and preserving our beaches, green spaces and access for this and future generations.”
Office of Disaster Recovery Director Adrienne Williams-Octalien reinforced the importance of Cramer’s Park to residents of St. Croix and elsewhere in the territory. Noting that projects are often given generic-sounding numbers to identify them, she stated “this one didn’t have a PW number, this was Cramer’s Park.”
Governor Bryan welcomed the reopening of the park pavilions, tying the event to the restoration of various facilities across St. Croix in the aftermath of the devastation to the island’s infrastructure wrought by 2017’s hurricanes. “We’re getting it together,” he remarked, noting the lifeguards manning popular beaches and improved lighting on little league fields.
Restoring facilities at Cramer’s Park was a way to breathe life into a dying way of life, said Mr. Bryan. “I think we’re losing camping as a tradition." He urged would-be vandals to stay away from the newly-renovated facilities, saying that previous attempts to restore the restrooms on site resulted in destruction weeks later. Should these restoration efforts be similarly thwarted, “we don’t have any money to put it back,” he warned.
A key focus of the project was ensuring accessibility for those with disabilities. The renovations have earned ADA approval, allowing expanded access for visitors of all ability levels to enjoy the scenic beach.
Key upgrades include free WiFi service and new benches, alongside upgraded lighting and barbecue grills for public use.
