PROJECT BACKGROUND

In 2002, cruise lines announced they would no longer call on St. Croix, raising serious concerns for Frederiksted, the island’s only port of entry for large ships. Property owners and tourism businesses feared the economic fallout unless the town and waterfront were revitalized and made more welcoming. In response, Phase One Design Improvements were undertaken to strengthen the visitor experience and support the local economy.

As Paradigm Design, our former office in St. Thomas, we collaborated with the Public Finance Authority of the U.S. Virgin Islands as local consultants to Coastal Systems International of Coral Gables on the revitalization of the Frederiksted Waterfront. Our role included leading community engagement, organizing meetings with stakeholders and local groups, analyzing the urban fabric, land uses, and open spaces, and contributing to the schematic design and design development of the proposed improvements.

WATERFRONT USE AND ACCESS

Town leaders and residents prioritized enhancing the aesthetics, function, safety, and symbolic role of Veterans Park, Strand Street, and Fort Frederik. A second goal was to direct pedestrian traffic from the cruise ship dock through the first three blocks of Strand Street, where most retail and restaurant establishments are located within arcades and inner courtyards.

CONCEPTUAL DESIGN

The waterfront park was envisioned as a welcoming space fostering interaction between residents and visitors, with amenities such as shaded seating, domino and chess tables, rest areas, and children’s play areas. A dedicated zone for families was proposed at the park’s southern edge, offering a more private and protected setting for children’s activities.

Inspired by historical precedents and the town’s cultural memory, the Veterans Memorial Palm Grove was designed to preserve open, safe, and usable space. A tall grove of royal palms was also introduced at the Old Well Plaza to mark the street intersection, framing views of the ocean without obstructing traffic, and inviting pedestrians to cross safely and continue exploring the town.

To improve pedestrian circulation and safety at street intersections, we proposed reallocating space on Strand Street currently used for parallel parking. The historic deep and unsafe gut adjacent to Veterans’ Park was regraded into a flatter, wider surface that could accommodate both stormwater collection and car parking. While improved for function and safety, the gut would remain an important visual and historic asset, preserved in both character and purpose.

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION

We assisted the design team in securing environmental regulatory permits through the Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Agency of the U.S. Virgin Islands and prepared details for bollard lighting, benches, stone gutters, and paving. The completion of construction documents and project implementation, however, proceeded as a design-build venture managed exclusively by Coastal Systems of Florida without our further involvement.

AFTERWARDS

Completed in 2007, the Phase I Frederiksted Economic Revitalization differed from the original concept in both layout and materials. A decade later, Hurricanes Irma and María destroyed many of the mahogany trees and several palms, while damaging light fixtures and chained bollards. Since then, additional buildings in town have fallen into disrepair, yet renewed energy from newcomers and private investment has also emerged—continuing the cycle of destruction and reconstruction that has long shaped Frederiksted’s history.