NYC Social Sports Club Volleyball League Playing At Roosevelt Island's Octagon Field, But They Party In Long Island City - No Indication From RIOC When Roosevelt Island Ball Fields Are Available For Non-Paying, Pick Up Play

Image of Octagon Field

Are there any Roosevelt Island Volleyball players out there? If so, you may want to sign up for the NYC Social Sports Club Sunday Volleyball League (NYCSSC). According to Time Out NY:

Roosevelt Island’s Octagon Field
NYC Social Sports Club holds league games on Roosevelt Island’s turf-lined fields that sit next to the Octagon, the former entrance to the New York City Lunatic Asylum, now converted to condos. Registration for the seven-week season costs $75, and you can sign up with 9 to 13 more friends to form a whole team or join as a free agent. Post-match drinks go down at LIC beer hall WunderBar (37-10 11th St at 37th Ave). Octagon Field, 888 Main St, Roosevelt Island (212-929-5353, nycsocialsportsclub.com). Sun noon–6pm; $75. July 16–Aug 27. Registration closes Wed 6.

You can register here for Roosevelt Island Volleyball but registration closes later today.

Sticking up for Roosevelt Island's Riverwalk Bar & Grill, resident Ross Wollen shares this letter he wrote to Time Out NY:

As a 30+ year veteran of Roosevelt Island (and long time subscriber),  I was pleased to see mentioned RI's Octagon Field and the NYCSSC (June 30 - July 8, 2011 (p. 4)). But it was indeed weird that you recommended players "go down" to the WunderBar - which is across the RI Bridge and maybe a 15 minute walk thereafter in a very at best, commercial area - and these are folks probably with bats, gloves and balls - who came to RI on the Subway or RI Tram (no-one drives) and certainly plan to return that way. I say this in particular because RI has a great , large, newish Sports Bar ( Riverwalk Bar & Grill) located within feet of the "F" Train and yards of the Tram! I have been to the WunderBar often by car and enjoy it - but its ridiculous to send people there on foot from RI , much less the field north of the Octagon. For $.25 they can take the comfortable, new RI Red Buses from there (with A/C) to the Grill/Tram/Subway in about 10 minutes.

Another issue of concern to Roosevelt Island residents regarding the use of Roosevelt Island ball fields is that they are frequently unavailable

Sign at Capobianco Field

to the people who live here due to the fields being rented out to groups like Zog, NYCSSC and others. A previous post in 2008 reported:

An issue of great concern and resentment by many Roosevelt Islanders has been RIOC's policy that use of the Roosevelt Island playing fields is by permit only. The result of this policy has been that these fields are rented out to corporate groups and leagues, such as Zog, effectively locking out resident adults and children from using these fields during prime playing hours...

... Responding to these concerns RIOC has developed a schedule that permits residents to use the fields without permits....

riplayingfieldavailability - Upload a Document to Scribd

Read this document on Scribd: riplayingfieldavailability

Green = Available for Residents

Red = Permitted Out

I searched but was not able to find a current Roosevelt Island ball field schedule for 2011 that shows when the fields are available for non-permit paying pick up games or play on the RIOC web site but did find the rates charged for the use of  the fields which does include a discount for Roosevelt Island residents.  According to RIOC:

Whether you have a sports team looking for a field or just want to put together a pick up game, Roosevelt Island is your spot. The island offers a variety of outdoor venues for sports practices, competitions, and everyday play.

It would certainly be easier putting a pick up game together if we knew when the fields were not being rented out and if at least one field was available during weekend and evening hours.