Report From RIOC President Charlene Indelicato - Roosevelt Island Heat Wave Cooling Center, Recent Burglaries, Outdoor Movies, Motorgate Renovation, Mommy & Me Swim Classes, Tot Lot, Southtown Building Update, Rebuilding After Hurricane Sandy With FEMA Help and Cultural Center Renovation

 Image of RIOC President Charlene Indelicato From RIOC

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Charlene Indelicato sends the following report to the community.

Heat Waves and Roosevelt Island Cooling Center

As beautiful as Roosevelt Island is during the summer, I think we have all been doing our best to deal with some pretty oppressive heat waves. Our Public Safety Department set up a water station right on Main Street. The Blackwell Park Water Fountain has been pumping cold water for people of all ages to cool down.

Also, our cooling center has been open as well from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Roosevelt Island Senior Center, 546 Main Street. During the two recent heat waves, we received a lot of calls about our cooling center and we can assure our residents that the center will be open when the heat index is predicted to be dangerously high. Individuals who have no ready access to a cool environment, and particularly those at risk for heat related illness, should use it during a heat wave. The status of the cooling center is also posted on our Facebook page.

As I write this, the weather has cooled a bit back to normal summer temperatures and we’re back to enjoying our outdoor spaces and activities.

On the Public Safety Front

It has been a busy few months at the Public Safety Department. Unfortunately, earlier last month, we had a series of burglaries at Manhattan Park. Any personal intrusion, such as a burglary, is treated very seriously by the PSD, who handle the initial response. Follow-up is then made by the NYPD’s 114th Precinct. PSD and the NYPD increased patrols in the area, and Crime Prevention Tips focused on home and personal security, which has proven to be an effective means of addressing crime, were distributed. The Crime Prevention Tips are available on the RIOC website, in the PSD section. The PSD Director dialogues with senior staff from the 114th Precinct regularly through the sharing of information and tactical plans to prevent and/or follow up on a crime.

Gonna Fly Now to the Outdoor Summer Movie Series

With over 600 people attending RIOC’s Outdoor Summer Movie Series each week, we are thrilled to see our community and visitors come together to enjoy our movies. The next film will be on August 10 and it’s a good one: Rocky. The movie will start at 8:45 p.m., but the fun starts at South Point Park at 6:00 p.m. with family friendly trivia with fun prizes. The park is ADA-accessible, and the Red Bus will stop at the nearby bus stop every 15 minutes.

In the event of inclement weather, we will announce postponements via RIOC advisories – email subscribe@rioc.ny.gov to sign up – and on our Facebook and Twitter pages. The rain date for Rocky will be August 17.

Remember, admission is free - so bring a blanket or a chair and enjoy the show!

Motorgate Renovation Project Update

On Thursday, the Motorgate Renovation Project moved from Sections 4A South and 4A North to Sections 4B South and 4D. The completed sections were opened to parking again. The renovation to the Motorgate Parking Facility includes new energy efficient LED lighting and refreshed striping.

Disabled parking currently located in Section 4D will be temporarily relocated to Sections 5D and 6D until this work is completed, as expected, by August 15.

The next sections undergoing renovations will be Sections 5A North and 5A South. Work in these sections will begin on or about August 15.

Mommy and Me adds another class

We are delighted by the demand for our Mommy and Me swim classes at the Sportspark Facility, 250 Main Street. Classes were initially offered at 11:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. on Sundays. We added another class at 10:30 a.m. This class is limited to 13 parents. Participants are encouraged to sign-up early for each class.

As a result of the popularity of these classes, RIOC is designing a new registration system to help with the process. This improved registration system will include pre-registration and varied rates for residents and non-residents.

Blackwell Park Tot Lot and Southtown Building Update

We are very happy to announce the new tot lot located at Blackwell Park is expected to be completed by mid-August, end of the month at the latest. After the new tot lot is open, Hudson/Related will begin the construction of Riverwalk Building 7. This 200,000 square foot residential building, featuring 260 rental apartments, will take approximately 2 years to complete, according to Hudson/Related.

The Southtown Dog Run will remain open through construction.

Rebuilding After Hurricane Sandy & FEMA Funds at Work

Working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), RIOC has engaged in important post-Sandy rehabilitation projects. As work on these projects progresses, FEMA is notified to ensure that RIOC can tap into Federal funds that have been made available for disaster response. Contractors have completed repairs to various sinkholes on the Island’s promenades, preventing potential injuries. A Request for Proposals (RFP) has been issued for qualified contractors to make necessary repairs to the West Pier, which has been closed to the public since the storm. Bids have been received and are being evaluated for the necessary repairs to the footbridges in Lighthouse Park. Lastly, an RFP is currently out for architectural and engineering documents necessary for construction work to begin on the beloved Cultural Center. Work on these three projects is expected to begin in the fall.

A final note about the Cultural Center: I would like to thank all who contributed their time and input to ensure that the multi-use space will provide room for all Roosevelt Island activities and not-for-profit groups at minimal cost.