ST. CROIX — The V.I. Department of Planning and Natural Resources has acquired 293 acres along St. Croix’s South Shore at Great Pond, placing a substantial stretch of land associated with one of the island’s most important coastal wetlands under public protection.
DPNR Commissioner Jean-Pierre L. Oriol announced the acquisition Tuesday, saying the property was purchased on behalf of the people of the Virgin Islands. The acquisition encompasses Remainder Parcel No. 52 and Parcels 53, 55 and 57 of Estate Hartmanns, along with Remainder Parcel No. 47 and Parcel No. 56 of Estate Great Pond. Great Pond acquisition.final
Great Pond has long been identified by environmental officials as a natural and cultural resource in need of protection and restoration. DPNR said preservation of the area is important both because of its ecological significance and because of its longstanding place in the cultural life of St. Croix. Great Pond acquisition.final
“The acquisition of Great Pond represents a significant investment in the future of St. Croix,” Mr. Oriol said. “By protecting this property, we are preserving an important natural and cultural resource for the benefit and enjoyment of generations to come.” Great Pond acquisition.final
The acquisition comes amid a broader effort by DPNR to assemble and protect significant natural areas across the territory through its Division of Territorial Parks and Protected Areas. Earlier this year, the department acquired the 53-acre Lowry Hill property, an undeveloped area between Altona Lagoon and Great Pond whose trails and natural drainage connect directly to the Great Pond watershed.
That purchase and the newly announced Great Pond acquisition are tied to a larger federal investment in conservation and climate resilience. NOAA awarded DPNR $69 million in 2024 through its Climate Resilience Regional Challenge for a territorywide initiative designed to protect natural and cultural areas, expand public access and reduce risks associated with flooding, drought and other climate threats. NOAA says the program includes acquiring properties threatened by development, implementing nature-based solutions and developing a local workforce capable of carrying out restoration projects.
DPNR's Tuesday announcement states specifically that the Great Pond acquisition was made possible by NOAA funding awarded in 2024.
Great Pond itself has been the subject of years of environmental planning. NOAA describes Great Pond Lagoon, located within the St. Croix East End Marine Park, as one of the relatively few coastal lagoons on the island and says it provides important habitat for commercially important marine species while contributing to food security and protection from natural hazards. A 2023 watershed restoration strategy for St. Croix’s East End also identified Great Pond as a priority for land acquisition, habitat restoration, improvements to water flow, parking-area upgrades and a multipurpose path. At that stage, the strategy listed land acquisition among projects still requiring substantial funding.
Separate conservation work has sought to connect Great Pond with other protected landscapes. A $2.1 million America the Beautiful Challenge grant awarded to DPNR in 2023 supports a six-mile conservation corridor linking Altona Lagoon and Great Pond and includes wetland restoration, public access improvements, trails and a youth conservation corps.
Kristina “Kitty” Edwards, director of DPNR's Division of Territorial Parks and Protected Areas, said Tuesday that acquiring the Great Pond property creates an opportunity to protect both the landscape and the traditions associated with it.
“Great Pond is a beloved community gathering place that holds special meaning in the hearts of many across the territory,” Ms. Edwards said. “We look forward to developing a plan that will help protect this beautiful cultural gem while keeping it clean, safe, and accessible for years to come.” Great Pond acquisition.final
DPNR has not yet detailed what specific recreational facilities, restoration work or access improvements will be developed across the newly acquired 293 acres. The department's announcement indicates that planning will involve community partners and will seek to preserve traditional uses of Great Pond while protecting the site.
The acquisition adds to an expanding Territorial Parks and Protected Areas portfolio that now includes properties such as Maroon Sanctuary Park, Lowry Hill, Mount Welcome and other natural areas across the Virgin Islands. DPNR describes the broader initiative as an effort to conserve important landscapes while creating public parks, trails, educational opportunities and gathering spaces.
