Fantastic Views Of Present Day Roosevelt Island From High Flying Drone Over NYC East River Waterfront - Compare To 1972 View

Take a look at some fantastic aerial views high above Roosevelt Island from Lighthouse Park to the Roosevelt Island Bridge and the NYC East River waterfront shot by a drone launched at Socrates Park in Long Island City.

https://t.co/gfTV7MTqRL

Roosevelt Island, seen from Socrates Park, is more beautiful at altitude 120 meters. It's cold, but the wind is calm. There was a little snow left, but there were a lot of dogs in Socrates Park. 021925

— tigershoes (@jklyeu) February 19, 2025

 And here's what much of the same area looked like in 1972.

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A post shared by New York Transit Museum (@nytransitmuseum)

RIOC Closing Southpoint Park, Limiting Car Traffic South Of Tram Tonight For Last Minute Drone Event - Three 10 Minute Drone Shows This Evening At 7:50, 8:50 And 9:50, Shhhh, Don't Tell Anybody Else

At 1:30 this afternoon, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) sent out an email advisory reporting:

Dear Roosevelt Island Community:

Please be advised that South Point Park will be closing early today at 6PM and we will be limiting vehicular traffic south of the Tram from 6PM to 11PM. We apologize for the late notice and any inconvenience this may cause.

-Team RIOC

A short time later, I asked RIOC President Shelton Haynes and Assistant VP for Communications Akeem Jamal:

Why is Southpoint Park closing early today Dear Roosevelt Island Community

RIOC did not respond to my question but did send out another email advisory at 6 PM with more info about why Southpoint Park was being closed early tonight. According to RIOC:

We hope this message finds you well. We would like to inform you of a last-minute event scheduled for this evening, September 15th, which will have an impact on the island's activities.

In response to this event, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) will be taking the following actions:

1. Closure of South Point Park: South Point Park will be closed from 6:00 PM onwards to prepare for a drone show over the East River. 
2. Limited Car Traffic: To ensure safety and minimize disruptions, we will be limiting car traffic south of the Tram starting at 6:00 PM until 11:00 PM 
3. Extended Tram Service: The Tram service will be operating on extended rush hours until 11:00 PM to accommodate residents' transportation needs during and after the event. The MTA F Train shuttle and Q102 will continue to operate on their normal schedule.

We understand that this advisory is coming on short notice, and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Please note that there will be three 10-minute drone shows during the evening at 7:50 PM, 8:50 PM, and 9:50 PM, respectively.

To maintain a smooth and safe experience for everyone, this community alert will be our only communication regarding the event, as we aim not to draw additional traffic to the island.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this event. If you have any urgent concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to contact our office.

Thank you.

-Team RIOC

UPDATE 8:10 PM:

Watch the light show after sunset over the East River starting tonight. https://t.co/RlLijW15Wu

— Time Out New York (@TimeOutNewYork) September 15, 2023

.@ProjectingChnge drone show over the East River @UN pic.twitter.com/5DfPDuU58w

— Jiahao Chen 陈家豪 (@acidflask) September 16, 2023

UPDATE 10:30 PM:

Drone Light show over the East River highlighting Climate change seen from Roosevelt Island @ProjectingChnge pic.twitter.com/EtCrIWjumD

— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland) September 16, 2023

Fantastic show by 1,000 #drones over #EastRiver highlighting #ClimateCrisis and its impacts as world leaders gather in #NewYork for UN’s 78th #GeneralDebate

Follow the “global diplomatic superbowl” at @UN_News_Centre #ProjectingChange #UNGA #UNGA78 #ClimateActionNow pic.twitter.com/LVKFe5aqYE

— Vibhu Mishra (@bullet350) September 16, 2023

Take A Very Cool Virtual Roosevelt Island Aerial Tour From The Lighthouse, Travel South Over Building Rooftops And Open Space To The FDR 4 Freedoms Park With Google Earth - Close Up Drone View Of Roosevelt Island Lighthouse And East River Waterfront Too

Take a look at Google Earth view of Roosevelt Island.

Click on full screen icon at bottom right for better view.

Close up drone view of Roosevelt Island Lighthouse under renovation

and East River waterfront too.

Beautiful Aerial View From High Flying Drone Of Roosevelt Island And NYC East River Waterfront

Click icon at bottom right for better full screen view. 

Check out more drone videos of NYC, Paris, Las Vegas and LA from the Dronalist.

Soar Like A Bird High Over Roosevelt Island - Fantastic Aerial View Of Lighthouse Park, East River Waterfront, Long Island City, Randall's Island & More

Click full screen icon at bottom right for a GREAT VIEW!!!

Gorgeous Nighttime Aerial NYC East River Waterfront View Seen From Drone Flying High Above Roosevelt Island - Stunning Pictures Of Manhattan And Long Island City Skylines

Click on full screen icon at bottom right of video for fantastic view.

It's Better Than Central Park Say Vloggers Enjoying Visit To Underrated Roosevelt Island - Check Out Great Aerial Drone Views Of Roosevelt Island

Vloggers Discover With Dima visited Roosevelt Island recently and report:

We head off to see New York's most underrated spot—Roosevelt Island, which is wedged in between Manhattan and Queens on the East River. You'll see why it's one of my favorite spots in the entire city, and it's a much better alternative to Central Park, which is already crowded and overrated. You can even take the Roosevelt Island Aerial Tram to get to the island to get some amazing views!

Check out the video with some great aerial drone views.



Shhhh. Please don't tell anybody else.

Hold Your Breath And Watch Fantastic Aerial Views Up,Down, & Across Roosevelt Island - Drone Swooping Across Cornell Tech Campus, Lighthouse Park, Queensboro Bridge & East River Waterfront

Take a look at this fantastic aerial drone footage taken from Roosevelt Island recently. Click on the full screen icon at bottom right of video and it will seem like a roller coaster ride up, down and across Roosevelt Island.



According to the Drone Pilot:

It was one of my favorite experiences so far as a drone pilot, Roosevelt island is an amazing place with beautiful buildings and a really amazing view.

And more Roosevelt Island drone aerial views.

I liked a @YouTube video https://t.co/zka1XIBCOm Rainey Park/Roosevelt Island

— Mrmikey147 (@vrsick147) November 5, 2017

Fantastic Roosevelt Island Aerial Drone Footage Above And Zooming Across FDR Four Freedoms Park, Renwick Ruins Smallpox Hospital, Southpoint Park & NYC East River Waterfront- Take A Look And Be Wowed

Patrick Henry is:

... a British guy living in New York. This Vlog is the inside look into my day-to-day life. It's mostly me just wandering around NYC. Sometimes there's adventures and sometimes there's just a dull work day.

Patrick spent a "Bloody Hot" 97 - 100 degree July 25 walking around Roosevelt Island shooting some great drone footage high above and zooming across the FDR Four Freedoms Park, Renwick Ruins Smallpox Hospital. Southpoint Park

 Image From Patrick Henry Roosevelt Island You Tube Drone Video

 and NYC East River waterfront.

New Entry: Catching Pokemon and Drone - Roosevelt Island, check it out at https://t.co/rgzIys2prW and remember to subscribe

— Patrick Henry (@MrPatrickHenry) July 26, 2016

Take a look at this Roosevelt Island drone footage - wow.



Click on the full screen icon for great views.

Patrick also captured some Pokemon characters too.

Roosevelt Island is probably the best place to farm for Magikarp and Dratini. #PokemonGO

— Chris Landon (@Outkreyd) July 24, 2016

I caught 50 more pokemon on Roosevelt Island today. Man, it's so much better to play in the city xD

— Sylent ... *Rawr* (@SylentButDedly) July 21, 2016

@PokeVisionGo another nest here in NYC of magikarps in Roosevelt island pic.twitter.com/knqTaaCeb4

— Erick tejada (@Ericktejada08) July 27, 2016

I wasn't first exited about Pokemon Go. But now I sure as hell am! I caught these all on Roosevelt island! #Pokemon pic.twitter.com/yRLf8jOGMN

— Melon Lord (@Melon_Lord88) July 7, 2016

Wow - Beautiful Drone View Above Roosevelt Island Lighthouse Park And East River Waterfront

According to the drone pilot:

Love Roosevelt Island, peaceful, quiet. So much history on it. Today it's all about he lighthouse views from the Phantom

Click on Full Screen Icon for better view.

Wow - Fantastic Nighttime Views From Drone Flying Over Roosevelt Island And East River Waterfront - Lights Shining Bright Like A Diamond, But Can It Be Creepy Too?

Click on full screen icon for spectacular view.

Last week, a Roosevelt Island resident noticed a drone flying near Manhattan Park and was creeped out by it. According to Freelancer:

Did anyone else notice the DRONE hovering in the sky over the East River near the southwestern corner of 20 River Road at about 11 a.m. today, Sunday, 2/28? It was hovering at the level of the fifth floor down from the top of the building. Then it went way up in the sky, hovered there, then slowly descended until it disappeared from my view behind the building. Never seen anything like this before. I called Public Safety, but they didn't know what it was. Creepy!

Here's a December 2015 report from the Wall Street Journal on new Federal Aviation Administration regulations governing the use of drones.



More drones over Roosevelt Island here.

Gorgeous Aerial View Of Roosevelt Island's Smallpox Hospital, FDR Four Freedoms Park And NYC East River Waterfront From Drone Flying Above

Click on the full screen icon, bottom right corner, to get full effect.

View Inside Roosevelt Island Smallpox Hospital From Drone Flying Above

From the Roosevelt Island Twitterverse:

Smallpox hospital @ #rooseveltisland. Would you go inside at night? 😑 #InstagramHub #NYC_Highlights… https://t.co/vMdPRSbfRi

— Melvin Sanders (@melvinsanders21) July 19, 2015

Smallpox hospital @ #rooseveltisland. Would you go inside at night? 😑 #InstagramHub #NYC_Highlights #icapture_nyc #Instagood #dronegear #drone #djiphantom3 #dji #thecreatorclass #NYC #Manhattan #Made_In_NY #instadaily #PhotoOfTheDay #dailyrecon #VisualArchitects #VSCO #queensborobridge #fourfreedomspark #quadcopter

A photo posted by Melvin Sanders (@mds_21) on Jul 18, 2015 at 5:05pm PDT

A little bit of my flight through the smallpox hospital @ Roosevelt Island a few days back. @ Small… https://t.co/9DXXotBzjN

— Melvin Sanders (@melvinsanders21) July 19, 2015

A little bit of my flight through the smallpox hospital @ Roosevelt Island a few days back.

A video posted by Melvin Sanders (@mds_21) on Jul 19, 2015 at 3:12pm PDT

Was That A UFO Hovering Over Roosevelt Island Yesterday? Has Takeover Begun?

The Roosevelt Island Twitterverse reported yesterday that the drone takeover may have begun.

Drone #slowmo #Q500 #yuneec #rooseveltisland #remotechief #drones https://t.co/c2HADI8YJS
— SAM PRICE (@SamPriceOnline) March 30, 2015

The takeover begins #drones #apv #aerialphotography #remotechief #remotecontrol #Q500typhoon #yuneec… https://t.co/5f1BhmvbPF
— SAM PRICE (@SamPriceOnline) March 29, 2015

Drone #slowmo #Q500 #yuneec #rooseveltisland #remotechief #drones

A video posted by Sam Price (@sampriceonline) on Mar 29, 2015 at 7:48pm PDT

Look out on my Instagram and Facebook for some serious pictures and video I will gominyo need mode and begin converting and editing but by tonight you will see some magic #drones #dronelife #dronesanity @mrconlin #remotechief #remotecontrol #yuneec #Q500typhoon #Q500 #apv #uav #quadcopters #dreambig

A video posted by Sam Price (@sampriceonline) on Mar 29, 2015 at 1:51pm PDT

More on drones flying over Roosevelt Island at this previous post.

Fantastic Video Taken From Aerial Drone Flying High Above Roosevelt Island NYC East River Waterfront - WOW

Reported previously on an aerial drone hovering over Roosevelt Island's Lighthouse Park and taking remarkable video images from above.

This is even better. An aerial drone flying over the southern portion of Roosevelt Island taking great images of the NYC East River waterfront,

Image From Mathew Lloyd Vimeo Video

the future home of Cornell NYC Tech at current Goldwater Hospital site,

Image From Mathew Lloyd Vimeo Video

FDR Four Freedoms Park and the Renwick Ruins Smallpox Hospital

Image From Mathew Lloyd Vimeo Video

as well as Southpoint Park and the Long Island City waterfront.

Image From Mathew Lloyd Vimeo Video

Here's the flight of the drone above southern tip of Roosevelt Island

Flight over Roosevelt Island from Matthew Lloyd on Vimeo.

and the drone that flew over Lighthouse Park last November



taking these pictures.



Wow!!!!!!!

Could the Roosevelt Island drones be a test of Amazon's Drone Delivery system?


Probably not but the drones do take some great pictures.

Learn more about Unmanned Aerial Vehicles at DIY Drones.

Wow, Wow Wow - Watch Aerial Drone Hover Then Soar High Above Roosevelt Island's Lighthouse Park Showing Fantastic NYC East River Waterfront Views

This is very cool. Last November, an aerial drone hovered over Roosevelt Island's Lighthouse Park



and then soared high over Roosevelt Island providing fantastic views of Roosevelt Island and the NYC East River waterfront.



Wow!!!!!!!

Could it be a test of Amazon's Drone Delivery system?



Probably not but still very cool demonstration.