Residents Tell RIOC President They Are Appalled At New Roosevelt Island Shoreline Project Benches, Described As Ugly, Uncomfortable Looking And Bizarrely Face Away From East River - Put Them On Truck And Haul Away Says RI Historical Society President

Roosevelt Island resident Matt Katz shares this message he sent today to Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Shelton Haynes:

I visited Southpoint Park this past weekend and was appalled to see the new benches located on the new east promenade walk.  

They are ugly, look uncomfortable and were placed bizarrely, facing, at one point, the brick wall at Strecker Laboratory rather than the East Channel of the East River.  

Clearly, no resident, no future user of the facility, was ever included in the decision making for the project.  There are several experienced resident members of the RIOC board of directors, not to mention a Roosevelt Island Residents Association, that could have been consulted should common sense been lacking in the landscape architects hired for the project. 

It is not too late to reconsider the placement and nature of the seating and I hope RIOC will do so before the benches are, literally, set in stone. 

I took a look today too.

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Roosevelt Island Historical Society (RIHS) President Judy Berdy agrees:

As I wrote in today's FROM THE ARCHIVES, the new benches at Soutpointh Park should be put on a truck and hauled away.  

The are ugly, do not sit more than one person, are too low, are not accessible to disabled. GET THEM OFF THE ISLAND, or RiOC will be the laughing stock of the City.

and adds;

... RIOC WAS LEFT ON THEIR OWN TO MESS UP SOUTHPOINT PARK. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN EVERYONE WAS SUPPOSEDLY “WORKING FROM HOME.” AN PANDEMIC OF BAD DESIGN.

I asked RIOC:

Why are new Southpoint Point shoreline renovations facing inside the park and not the East River?

Is there any seating facing the East River?

Will Rioc change benches so they face East River?

Will update if RIOC answers.

RIOC President Shelton Haynes' Executive Assistant Aida Morales replied to Mr Katz:

Thank you for reaching out. Mr. Haynes and the team will review and provide an update very soon. 

The RIOC rendering 

presented to the community for the Southpoint Park Shoreline project  had benches facing the East River.