New Playground and Shade Structure Unveiled at Estate Frydenhoj, Skate and Bike Park To Follow

Community members gathered Saturday for the official ribbon-cutting of a new playground and shade structure at the Ezra Fredericks Ballpark, marking a major milestone in the multiphase revitalization of the space, located in Estate Frydenhoj on St. Thomas. The initiative, led by the Virgin Islands Surfing Federation, aims to transform the area into a multiuse facility for local youth.

The playground and shade structure are the first completed elements of the project, with the second phase — the construction of a skate and bike park — already halfway done. The park is expected to be finished in May.

“We’ve been working on this initiative for the last three years, starting with securing government support and identifying a location,” said Alex Israel, the organization’s treasurer and project manager. “The community’s financial contributions and partnerships have been instrumental in making this a reality.”

Funding for the project exceeded initial expectations. Originally planned as a $300,000 effort, significant in-kind donations and community fundraising, led to much of the organization’s vision being fulfilled. Among the key contributors were Heavy Materials, which donated all the concrete; Haugland Group, which provided fill and drainage work using upcycled materials from the airport runway; MSI, which supplied lumber and rebar; and Island Roads, which contributed heavy machinery.