FANTASTIC NEWS - Roosevelt Island Southpoint And FDR Four Freedoms Park Open To Public For Viewing Macy's July 4 Fireworks Celebration

On June 18, I asked,

Will Safety And Security Concerns Close Roosevelt Island Southpoint Park And FDR Four Freedoms Park To Public For July 4 East River Fireworks Celebration?

We got our answer at last night's Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors meeting and it was GOOD NEWS!!!!!!

RIOC President Charlene Indelicato announced during June 25 Board of Directors meeting that Roosevelt Island's Southpoint Park and FDR Four Freedoms Park will be open to the public for viewing the Macy's July 4 Fireworks celebration.

The views from Roosevelt Island parks should be spectacular because the fireworks will be:

...fired from four barges positioned between 23rd and 37th Streets in Midtown and from one double-barge positioned below the Brooklyn Bridge....

Image From Macy's

The last time July 4 fireworks could be seen from Roosevelt Island was in 2007



and 2008.



Here's what Ms. Indelicato had to say.



No information other than the parks will be open is currently available. Ms. Indelicato said stay tuned for more details early next week regarding the Macy's Fireworks viewing.

The decision to keep Southpoint and FDR Four Freedoms Park open for the July 4 Macy's Fireworks Celebration is a big surprise for those attending the June 22 RIOC Operations Advisory Committee meeting. (Audio web cast of meeting here. July 4 discussion starts at approx 1 hour 27 minute mark).

During the Operations Advisory Committee meeting, Ms. Indelicato recommended to the RIOC Board Directors closing both parks for the July 4 Fireworks celebration because of safety and security concerns.

Ms. Indelicato explained that due to the Cornell Tech campus construction adjacent to Southpoint Park, the only two roads leading to the Southpoint Park entrance might not be safe for the up to 7 thousand people who might try to view the fireworks at the parks on the southern tip of Roosevelt Island.

Image Of Cornell Tech Construction Site, Southpoint & FDR Park From Faizon Video

According to Ms. Indelicato, the West Promenade Road facing Manhattan has no electricity for nighttime streetlights and East Promenade road is closed with no fencing around the Cornell Tech construction site perimeter.

RIOC Director Margie Smith suggested stringing temporary lights along the West Promenade, as has been done before, to insure safety of those walking to the parks to view the fireworks. Ms. Smith also suggested limiting those able to access the parks to Roosevelt Island residents, or, if that could not be done, distributing tickets in advance and only allow those with tickets to access the parks. Also suggested was having Cornell Tech build a temporary construction fence on the East Road so it can be accessed.

The meeting concluded without a decision by the RIOC Directors other than not to make a decision until RIOC President Indelicato hears back from the Second Floor NY Governor's Office and the NY State Parks Department as to whether Southpoint Park and FDR Park will be open to the public for the July 4 Fireworks Celebration.

Here's the full RIOC Operations Advisory Committee June 22 discussion on the Roosevelt Island July 4 Fireworks viewing at Southpoint And FDR Parks.



It looks like the Second Floor Governor's Office wants the public to be able to watch the July 4 Macy's Fireworks Celebration from Roosevelt Island's Southpoint and FDR Parks.

Now let's see what the details are for public viewing.

UPDATE 7/1 - Here's ticket information for viewing July 4 Macy's Fireworks from Roosevelt Island's Southpoint and FDR Four Freedoms Park.