Department of
Planning & Natural Resources
Department of
Planning & Natural Resources
The Division of Territorial Parks & Protected Areas is the newest division in the Department of Planning & Natural Resources. We have the responsibility of creating and managing the Territorial Parks System as well as all marine protected areas and other designated protected areas.
Message from the Director
Welcome to the Division of Territorial Parks & Protected Areas where the team is focused on creating VI Parks for VI People. As this division grows and we make progress on the creation of the Territorial Parks System we are excited to work with the communities of the Virgin Islands and look forward to opportunities to share our goals, project, and celebrations!
To learn more about what we are up to or reach out to the team, email parks@vi.gov and ask!
The Climate Resilient Regional Challenge (CRRC) grant, awarded to DPNR’s Territorial Parks & Protected Areas Division, supports projects that strengthen climate resilience across the U.S. Virgin Islands. CRRC is built on three core pillars: 🌊 Pillar I: Coastal and Watershed Plan Implementation 🌿 Pillar II: Land Conservation and Park Development 📚 Pillar III: Education and Workforce Development Together, these pillars promote collaboration and help build stronger, more sustainable communities throughout the territory.
The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) is a federal program intended to create and maintain a nationwide legacy of high-quality recreation areas and facilities and to stimulate non-federal investments in the protection and maintenance of recreation resources across the United States. The LWCF operates a State and Local Assistance program to support acquisition, planning, development, redevelopment, administration, and program funding that the TPPA is eligible for.
Connecting communities to nature is a primary focus of conservation management. The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources will leverage public-private partnerships to create the first of many conservation corridors connecting lands and waters across the USVI managed by the new Territorial Parks System, moving public investment in lands from 5% protection to over 12% protection. This grant will create a 6 mile cross-island conservation corridor connecting two critical coastal wetlands totaling 260 acres of wetlands running through rocky grasslands across private and public lands. Both coastal wetlands are USVI conservation priorities due to their impairment, with engineering designs and strong stakeholder support for proposed restoration plans in-place. The trail connector will serve wildlife, hikers, bikers, birders, and fishers.
Through the adoption of Act #8609: The Division of Territorial Parks and Protected Areas is charged with the responsibility of identifying, supervising, administering, managing, regulating, and controlling the use and operation of all public campgrounds, natural areas, scenic waysides, historic sites, recreational trails, monuments, marine trails, marine parks, and other classified protected sites in the territorial parks system.
Stay tuned for updates on properties to be designated as Territorial Parks, news on outreach events and public meetings, and information on projects taking place in the Division of Territorial Parks & Protected Areas.
4611 Tutu Park Mall
Suite 300, 2nd Floor
St. Thomas, VI 00802
Phone: (340) 774-3320
45 Estate Mars Hill
Frederiksted, VI 00840
Phone: (340) 773-1082
Monday – Friday
Cashier closes at 3:00pm
*Does not include Federal/Local Holidays