Report From RIOC President Charlene Indelicato - Roosevelt Island Development, Sprinkler/Fountain Repair, Arbor Day and Roosevelt Island Day

 Image of RIOC President Charlene Indelicato From RIOC

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

There have been many changes to Roosevelt Island over the years, including much residential and commercial development such as the Octagon, Southtown and Main Street retail revitalization. Rest assured that development will continue into the future, whether it is through additional affordability initiatives like the Island House project, the Cornell campus, restoration of older buildings, new businesses on Main Street and other projects in the years to come.

Development is complicated. As I said in a recent WIRE interview, I am very pro-development when the developments in question are good for the community. It is vital that when we plan for growth, we also ensure that we maintain and enhance the Island’s quality of life. In my experience, the key to beneficial development is to build productive relationships with all developers and to utilize such relationships to ensure maximization of all projects. That is what I intend to do as President of RIOC.

New Sprinklers and Fountain Repairs

The outdoor space available to residents and visitors is one of the many pleasures of Roosevelt Island. Unfortunately, the sprinklers at the playground near Blackwell House, where many children spend their summer days, have become irreparably damaged. We plan to replace them with an upgraded system in the near future.

We are also working to fix the fountain in front of Blackwell House. RIOC engineers have replaced the drain cover, which was rusted, and are preparing to install a new cover made from rust-resistant stainless steel. The fountain should be up and running soon.

Arbor Day at PS/IS 217

I was grateful to have the opportunity to celebrate Arbor Day with the students of PS/IS 217 on June 7. The rain forced the event indoors to the school auditorium but that didn’t damper the occasion. The event encourages the community to celebrate the spirit of Arbor Day year-round by supporting efforts to protect Island trees. The talented student musicians from the school band played the song “Sakura,” which means “cherry blossom” in Japanese. First and second-graders read two beautiful Arbor Day poems. A big "thank you" to principal Mandana Beckman, as well as RIOC Directors Fay Christian and Katherine Grimm, for participating in this wonderful event.

Roosevelt Island Day

I am looking forward my first Roosevelt Island Day and I encourage the Island community to join us for what I understand is a fantastic annual event. This year’s edition will take place on Saturday, June 15 from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm at the Good Shepherd Plaza. The festivities will commence in the morning with Island-wide cleanup and beautification projects, including flower planting. At noon, the Plaza will host entertainment for kids, including rides, a petting zoo, and arts and crafts workshops. The FDR Drive Band will provide evening entertainment by performing a mix of rock, dance hits, swing and more. I would like to thank Urban American and the Youth Center for collaborating with RIOC to sponsor this event.