Alvin V. Courtar Park: A Quiet Nod to a Statia Legend
A pocket-sized community park in Oranjestad named for one of Statia's most beloved self-made men.
Why Go
Most visitors to Sint Eustatius chase the volcano or the reef and never notice this leafy little corner off Paramira Weg — which is precisely why it's worth a pause. Named for Alvin Valentine Courtar (1933–2024), the fisherman-turned-contractor-turned-pilot who helped build the roads and the Statia Terminal you drove in on, the park is less a tourist attraction than a small civic thank-you note, tucked into a residential stretch of Oranjestad.
The Experience
Don't picture a sprawling green space — this is Statia, an island of roughly 3,200 people, and everything here is human-scaled. Expect a modest neighborhood park: a bit of shade, some benches, room for kids to run, and the low background hum of Caribbean daily life — a rooster somewhere, a scooter passing, wind coming up off the Caribbean side. It's the kind of spot locals cut through on a walk, and the kind of quiet, unstaged Statia moment that Statia does better than almost any island in the region. Bring a cold Prestige from a nearby shop, sit for twenty minutes, and you'll get a truer feel for Oranjestad than any guided tour can offer.
What to Try
Pair it with a slow, self-guided wander of Upper Town — the park sits within easy walking distance of the historic core, so use it as a rest stop between the Fort Oranje overlook, the ruins of the Dutch Reformed Church, and the Honen Dalim synagogue ruins. Photographers should come in the golden hour before sunset, when the light on the pastel houses along Paramira Weg goes soft and warm.
Insider Tip
Ask any older Statian who Alvin Courtar was and you'll unlock a small oral history — he was Royally decorated and remembered as 'a self-made man with a golden heart,' and locals will happily talk about him. It's a much better icebreaker than the usual 'so, how do you like living here?' and often leads to a restaurant recommendation you'd never find online.
The Practical Stuff
Address: 29 Paramira Weg, Oranjestad, Sint Eustatius (Caribbean Netherlands). Free and open-air — no hours, no gate, no fee. Bring water, insect repellent for dusk, and cash for anything you want to grab nearby (ATMs on Statia are limited and cards aren't universally accepted). Walkable from central Oranjestad in a few minutes; a rental car or taxi is only needed if you're coming from the Lower Town waterfront or Zeelandia side of the island.
Pair It With
- Bacchanalia Guide — A neighborhood restaurant just around the corner — an easy lunch or dinner stop after a stroll through the park and Upper Town.
- Barrel House St. Eustatius — One of the closest places to stay, so guests can build the park into a morning coffee walk before heading to the Quill or the dive shop.
- Antillean Horde Car Rental Guide — Handy if you want to combine the park visit with a wider Oranjestad loop out to Fort Oranje, Lynch Plantation, or the Zeelandia coast.
