$1.2 Million Roosevelt Island Blackwell Park Paver Project Complete With Brand New Sidewalk, Plaza Water Fountain Fixed Too And Working After Many Years Of Neglect

The long time neglected and cracked Roosevelt Island Blackwell Park Plaza sidwalks are now replaced with brand new pavers and are open to the public. The broken Plaza water fountain was working today too.
 

According to a presentation by Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Shelton Haynes to the October 28 RIOC Board of Directors meeting, the project cost was approximately $1.2 million.

                                            Screenshot From October 28 RIOC Board Of Directors Meeting President's Report Presentation

The new sidewalk and water fountain looks good.

UPDATE 11//19 - According to RIOC:

RIOC is welcoming the holiday season with a newly renovated Blackwell Plaza, a cornerstone to R.I.’s Main Street, as it opens to the public today, Friday, November 19th.

The plaza will once again shine as a safe, accessible, and welcoming area for the community and visitors alike. The polished plaza will include safer and wider sidewalks, ADA compliant walkways, a renovated and expanded accessible outdoor group seating area, a working fountain, and an irrigation system to support the addition of 127 new shrubs and hedges in coordination with A Living Library.

Come out and enjoy this new, sound place of gathering, community, education, and memory-making.

Good Job By Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department Providing Main Street Water Station For Thirsty Residents During Heat Wave

Good job by the Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department providing a water station in front of their Main Street HQ

for thirsty Roosevelt Islanders

to get some relief

during the Heat Wave.

The Blackwell Park Water Fountain also provided

some refreshing relief.

Did you take a dip in the fountain?

Fortunately, the heat wave has subsided and the weather has cooled down a bit.

Residents Ask When Will Roosevelt Island Fountains Be Fixed and Sportspark Locker Rooms Cleaned Up? RIOC Replies

Image of Tram Fountain Closed For Repairs

Readers of Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Leslie Torres recent Report To The Community commented on these issues. From Cheshire Kitty:

Is there ... timeframe as to when the Blackwell House fountains will be restored?  It's pleasant to enjoy these fountains during the summer. 

Westview Girl:

I would like to see RIOC invest in cleaning up the locker rooms and dressing rooms and lift the swim cap rule, women should have to put their hair in pony tail if below the shoulders, but the swim cap rule is so wrong, to enforce it is wrong ... if Ms Torres would go and use the showers and have to walk in the dressing rooms she herself would suggest things be bleached ... cleaned and updates.  Would not cost that much to freshen up the locker rooms and showers and put some bright paint and color there.

the memberships would go up if it was cleaner and brigher and more updates...so, when will that happen? 

and Yet Another RIer:

I agree with the state of the locker rooms. They are disgusting. They have been disgusting ever since the pool opened to the public. About swim caps: it's also men who are required to wear a cap if their hair is below shoulders. It's a very outdated thing to require (especially if you look at the history of swim caps it's outright sexist) but pretty much all indoor pools have the same requirement.

I asked RIOC Vice President of Operations Fernando Martinez:

Readers of this post asked when the fountains at the Tram Plaza and Blackwell House will be fixed. Also, is there any plan to clean and repair the locker rooms at Sportspark.

Do you have any comment?

Thank you.

Mr. Martinez replied:

The parts and materials for the fountains are on back order. We do have a delivery date from the supplier.

The Sports Park locker rooms are cleaned daily, and they were painted about 2 years ago.  We are having preliminary internal discussions on an overall Sports Park rehabilitation project.