2nd Anniversary Of Roosevelt Island FDR Four Freedoms Park, A Look Back At Dedication Ceremony And Upcoming Free Tours And Hot Apple Cider - KHHAAAAAANNNNNN

 Image From Curbed

The FDR Four Freedoms Park tweets:

It's our anniversary week & we want to celebrate! We're offering free tours, cider & more! Learn more here http://t.co/J3tTS7OKQh
— Four Freedoms Park (@4FreedomsPark) October 17, 2014

adding:

In celebration of the 2nd anniversary of the dedication ceremony and public opening of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park, we’re offering extra tours all week! Join us on the following days for FREE guided tours to learn more about the history of the Roosevelt era and the Four Freedoms, architect Louis Kahn’s design principles and philosophies, the story behind the building of the memorial, and the history of Roosevelt Island.

Saturday October 18, Sunday October 19, and Saturday October 25 at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm
Monday October 20, Wednesday October 22, Thursday October 23, and Friday October 24 at 1pm and 3pm

Tour groups meet at the Four Freedoms Park entrance gate. Tours are approximately thirty minutes long and take place weather permitting.**

Additionally, we’re giving away a FREE cup of hot apple cider and a FDR Four Freedoms Park Dedication book to the first 50 people who wish us “Happy Anniversary” on Saturday October 18, on Sunday October 19, and on Saturday October 25. Simply visit our welcome area on these days and mention our anniversary promotion to receive your gift!...

Here's scenes from the 2012 dedication ceremony with President Bill Clinton, Mayor Mike Bloomberg, Google Chairman Eric Schmidt and a few Roosevelt Island residents.

All I have left to say is, KHAAAAANNNNNN:



and Happy Birthday FDR Memorial

Report From Acting RIOC President Don Lewis - Roosevelt Island New Tram Bus Stop, Good Shepherd Roof Restoration, Motorgate Renovations And 2012 Review

 Image Of Acting RIOC President Don Lewis From RIOC

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Acting President Don Lewis sends the following report to Roosevelt Island residents.

I hope everyone had a healthy and happy New Year's, is sticking to their resolutions and enjoying 2013! Roosevelt Island certainly had an eventful 2012, highlighted by the opening of Four Freedoms Park, exciting progress on Cornell’s Tech campus plans, the historic Island House Affordability Plan, and many collaborative and successful community events. We will remember the devastation of Sandy, but also our community’s resilience and generosity in the aftermath. With much to look forward to in 2013, RIOC continues to work diligently to make it yet another prosperous year for Roosevelt Island.

New Bus Stop Location by the Tram

As you likely know, we have moved the Tram West bus stop from its previous location near the Roosevelt Island Historical Society kiosk back to its original location just outside the entrance of the Tram Plaza, by the Tram Ramp. We believe the new stop will be more convenient for passengers since they will no longer need to hurry down the hill from the Tram to catch the bus by the kiosk. I would like to say a special thank you to Cy Opperman, RIOC's Transportation General Manager, for spearheading the efforts to get this done.

Roof Replacement at Good Shepherd Community Center

We are pleased to note that the installation of the beautiful new slate shingles atop the Good Shepherd Community Center is complete. The building was designated as a historical landmark in 1975 and the original slate material is fitting for such an important Island site.

Motorgate Renovations

Our renovation project at the Motorgate parking garage is underway. The extensive renovations are twofold: waterproofing on the third and fourth floors will prevent leaks onto the lower levels; meanwhile the installation of new LED light fixtures on each floor and the stairwells will increase visibility. The LED lights are environmentally friendly, as well as more durable and cost efficient than the outdated incandescent lights. The project will require certain parking disruptions and we will provide advanced notice concerning the same.

RIOC on Twitter and Facebook

For the latest information about news and events on Roosevelt Island, follow RIOC on Twitter @RIOCny and visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/RIOCNY.

Watch Roosevelt Island Kahn FDR Four Freedoms Boondoggle Built In Seven Minutes Time Lapse Video

You Tube Video Of FDR Four Freedoms Time Lapse

Report From Acting RIOC President Don Lewis - Roosevelt Island Hurricane Sandy Status, Meeting With Governor Cuomo's Secretary Larry Schwartz, Cornell NYC Tech, FDR Memorial, Halloween Parade And Thanks RIOC Employees For Work During Storm

 Image Of Acting RIOC President Don Lewis From RIOC

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Acting President Don Lewis sends the following report to Roosevelt Island residents.

First and foremost, I hope that everyone in the Roosevelt Island community and their loved ones remained safe through Hurricane Sandy. I would like to extend a special thank you to the Corporation’s Public Safety, Grounds, Transportation and Engineering teams who all went above and beyond the call of duty, and in certain instances worked tirelessly through the night to keep our wonderful Island safe during this tumultuous time. A list of RIOC employees who were part of this tremendous effort and spent the majority of the storm away from their families, and on the Island, is included at the end of this column. Thank you all.

Hurricane Sandy

In order to effectively respond to the storm, RIOC employed the emergency management procedures we learned during Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) training attended by certain staff last year. We established an Emergency Command Center at the Public Safety Department’s (PSD) headquarters, and coordinated with the City’s Office of Emergency Management, NYPD and FDNY before, during and after the storm. We also effectively applied lessons learned during Hurricane Irene, such as establishing alternate emergency phone numbers in the event of an outage with the main PSD line. By effectively implementing FEMA’s procedures, we are eligible for federal reimbursement funds to help cover the costs incurred as a result of the storm.

We spent much of Tuesday and Wednesday assessing damage to the Island. Lighthouse Park experienced substantial flooding, there was damage to multiple Island trees, and certain locations on the Island lost power. We’ve also had to close the Island parks, but hope that both Southpoint and Four Freedoms Park will reopen by the time this column is distributed in The Wire on Friday.

We are pleased to note we have not received any reports of injuries incurred on the Island as a result of the storm. We are also pleased to report that both the Red Bus and Tram were back in service as of 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday and complimentary rides offered on both services on Tuesday evening and all day Wednesday.

RIOC Board Meets with Secretary to Gov. Cuomo, Larry Schwartz

Larry Schwartz, Secretary to Governor Andrew Cuomo, attended the October 25 meeting of the RIOC Board of Directors. The meeting was highly productive and Secretary Schwartz discussed Island issues with the Board and addressed Island residents in attendance. We are pleased to note that Mr. Schwartz made clear that he and the Administration intend to work closely and collaboratively with the RIOC Board and Island residents going forward. Mr. Schwartz’s remarks are important affirmations of the Administration’s commitment to the Roosevelt Island community.

Cornell Update

On October 22, representatives from Cornell provided an update on campus plans at a meeting of Community Board 8. The representatives listened to concerns and answered questions from Roosevelt Island residents. I can assure the Island community that RIOC is deeply engaged with Cornell and the City on the planning of the campus and its potential effects on Island infrastructure. We are fully aware of the magnitude of this project and of the legitimate concerns Island residents have concerning the same. As noted, we have been working closely with Cornell and the City on infrastructure (as well as other) issues in order to ensure that the community’s concerns, as well as RIOC’s, are properly heard and properly addressed. We will continue to listen carefully to feedback from the Island community as we move forward on this exciting project.

Four Freedoms Park Draws Big Crowds

As expected, Four Freedoms Park is proving to be quite a draw, with over 3,500 visitors from Wednesday, October 24 (public opening date) through Sunday October 28. Guests have included visitors from all over the world, including Brazil, Argentina, Japan, Norway, Italy and France, as well as visitors from various states, and of course, a slew of New Yorkers. Other visitors of note include, Jim Roosevelt, grandson of Franklin and Eleanor, accompanied by his wife and daughter, Gordon Davis – NYC Parks Commissioner in the 80’s – with Diane Coffey, Chief of Staff to Mayor Ed Koch, and The President of Salk Institute – the famous Louis Kahn building in La Jolla, California – attended with his family.

The park will be recruiting volunteers and training tour guides who can educate visitors about the legacy of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the architecture of Louis Kahn and the rich history of Roosevelt Island. For more information, you can sign up for updates at www.fdrfourfreedomspark.org/page/s/get-involved-with-the-park.

Halloween Parade a Success

I had an absolute blast celebrating Halloween with RIOC staff and the rest of the community last Saturday at the Roosevelt Island Halloween Parade & Extravaganza – in case you didn’t recognize me and other RIOC employees, we were dressed as Big Bad (Friendly) Pirates!!! The weather was perfect so we were able to hold the event outdoors for the first time in years. We enjoyed an exceptional performance from the Brooklyn-based Approaching Storm Marching Band comprised of middle-school and high-school children.

We were very pleased to see RIOC Council Member Jessica Lappin and Senator Jose M. Serrano in attendance with their families, joining hundreds of costumed Roosevelt Islanders for the parade and festivities at Capobianco Field. We also would like to thank Urban American and the Roosevelt Island Youth Center for co-sponsoring this free-for-the-public event and for helping to make it the Biggest and Best Parade & Extravaganza of All-Time!!!

(Thank you to the following RIOC employees who worked through Hurricane Sandy: Public Safety: Keith Guerra, Rene Bryan, Estrella Suarez, Wanda Coleman, Gary Yee, Rodell Lindsey, Raul Hernandez, Patricia Gamble, Lilia Paguada, Christian Gilmore, Jeffrey Laszczych, Ralph Torrens, Lisa Williams, Kionna Wray, Steven Cohen, Deborah Viel, Luis Candelario; Engineering: Alex Snedkov, Robert Greene, Santo Verta, Juan Rivera, Rajcoomar Megnath, Alex Banashko; Grounds: Fernando Vargas, Toni Tinoco, Fidel Cintron, Juan Cruz, Chris Gonzalez, Jamal Perry; Transportation Cyril “Cy” Opperaman, Shamsodeen Satar, Joe Marino, Joe Franchi. I would also like to thank Community Relations Specialist Erica Spencer-El who did a tremendous job of keeping the Island community informed of Sandy related issues.)

Scenes From Saturday's FDR Four Freedoms Park Preview For Roosevelt Island Residents

 Last Wednesday was the FDR Four Freedoms Park Dedication Ceremony  for VIPS, Thursday was a Ceremony for United Nations representatives and yesterday Roosevelt Island residents got a Special Preview of the park before it officially opens to the public on October 24.

Roosevelt Island Historical Society President Judy Berdy shares some images of Roosevelt Islanders at the FDR Four Freedoms Park Special Preview.

Images From Judy Berdy

Here are some more scenes from Saturday's Special Preview For Roosevelt Island residents

and the official program including introduction and greeting from Memorial representatives William Vander Heuvel and Sally Minard



followed Child School/ Legacy High School Chorus performance,



 Kathy Sloane of the FDR Four Freedoms Park Conservancy and NY City Council Member Jessica Lappin,



Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney,



Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer and FDR Four Freedoms Park representative Gina Pollara



Roosevelt Island Jewish Congregation Rabbi Leanna Moritt. Don't miss her singing the Preamble to the Constitution at the 1 minute 30 second mark. (Part 1)



Part 2



Ending with another song from the Child School/Legacy High School choir



and final remarks by Mr. Vanden Heuvel and Ms. Minard.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki- Moon Visits Roosevelt Island FDR Four Freedoms Park Last Thursday - More On Dedication Ceremony From Resident Reporter Kim Lengle

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon came to Roosevelt Island to visit the FDR Four Freedoms Park last Thursday and pay tribute to President Franklin D. Roosevelt's global vision.

President Roosevelt's granddaughter Anna Roosevelt was also here on Thursday. She remarked that FDR never wanted a memorial to himself. She added that she thought if FDR was alive today he would see the importance of memorials as visual cues of what we need to aspire to.

Here's a report of the Roosevelt Island visit of the UN Secretary General and Ms. Roosevelt from United Nations TV.



Also, Roosevelt Island resident Kim Lengle reports on last Wednesday's FDR Four Freedoms Park Dedication Ceremony for Richard French Live TV Program. Here's Ms. Lengle's report.



More on the FDR Four Freedoms Park Dedication at this previous post.

West Point Band Performs At Roosevelt Island FDR Four Freedoms Park Dedication

Image Of West Point Band At Roosevelt Island FDR Four Freedoms Park Dedication

The United States Military West Point Band performed last Wednesday at the Roosevelt Island FDR Four Freedoms Park Dedication Ceremony. Take a look and listen.



The Superintendent of West Point Lt. Gen David Huntoon attended the Dedication and is pictured below greeting former President Bill Clinton.

Image Of President Clinton and West Point Superintendent David Huntoon

Are you interested in learning more about the West Point Band? If so, here's some history of the West Point Band:

... With the establishment of the United States Military Academy in 1802 came an increased demand for military music. As the academy grew, it needed fifers, drummers and buglers to drill the new cadets and provide an audible order to their duty day. In 1817 the ensemble was named the “West Point Band,” and by this time was performing on a full range of instruments, which included two bassoons, two Royal Kent bugles, a tenor bugle, ten clarinets, three French horns, a serpent (an early bass horn), cymbals, a bass drum, eight flutes, and two trumpets.

Today’s band consists of four components: the Concert Band, the Jazz Knights, the Hellcats and Support Staff. They combine to form the Marching Band. The organization fulfills all of the official musical requirements of the Academy, including military and patriotic ceremonies, public concerts, sporting events and radio and television broadcasts, as well as social activities for the Corps of Cadets and the West Point community....

and one of the Band Members prior to playing on Roosevelt Island.

West Point Band Member on Roosevelt Island

More on West Point Band here and full Dedication Ceremony here.

Roosevelt Island Residents, Friends and Family Invited To Special Preview Of Kahn/FDR Four Freedoms Park Saturday October 20 - Check Out The Park With Elected Officials, Performance By Child School Chorus, And The Rules

Received the following invitation to Roosevelt Island residents from the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC):

Hi neighbor,

Four Freedoms Park is not open to the public yet, but because you're a resident of Roosevelt Island, you are invited to a special preview.

This Saturday, October 20, we're hosting an exclusive open house just for you. From 10 am to 3 pm, the Park will be open to residents of Roosevelt Island, as well as any friends and family you'd like to bring with you.

The speaking program begins at 11:30 am. We will be joined by:

Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney
State Senator Jose Serrano
Assembly Member Micah Kellner
Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer
Council Member Jessica Lappin
Council Member Dan Garodnick
Rabbi Leana Moritt

The Child School/Legacy High School Chorus will perform.

Join us on Saturday to celebrate the completion of the memorial to Franklin D. Roosevelt at this exclusive event in advance of the public opening. For more details, please see the formal invitation below.

To prepare for your visit, explore our new website and learn about Park architect Louis I. Khan and the Park's thirty-nine year history.

http://fdrfourfreedomspark.org/explore-the-website ( http://fdrfourfreedomspark.org/page/m/6381b36e/732e814/4793ae3d/3345f22b/3060663422/VEsE/ )

We look forward to seeing you Saturday.

Sincerely,

Four Freedoms Park Conservancy

Sincerely,

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp Advisories Group

I asked RIOC:

Was the PS/IS 217 chorus invited to perform at this event?

If not, why was the Child School chorus selected to perform instead of a local Roosevelt Island Public School made up of local Roosevelt Island kids?

Any reason why both could not perform?

Thank you.

RIOC's Press Spokesperson replied:

RIOC had no involvement with creating the program for Saturday's event.

I asked Four Freedoms Park for a comment but have not heard back yet. Will include any reply later as an update.

According to the FDR Four Freedoms Park,

Image Of FDR Four Freedoms Park Facing United Nations And East Side Waterfront

here are the rules for the Park:

Park Rules

Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park is a Presidential memorial. We ask you to follow these rules to preserve the sanctity of this place. To keep the memorial clean for all to enjoy, please carry out what you carry in. Thank you for honoring this shared public space.

Not allowed:

Bicycles, roller skates, recreational scooters, or skateboards
Dogs or other pets
Climbing embankments, walls, or trees
Possessing or consuming alcohol
Smoking
Littering
Glass containers
Amplified sound
Panhandling or solicitation
Commercial activity
Obstructing entrances or walkways
Fishing
Feeding wildlife

and some more scenes from the October 17 Big Wig Dedication Ceremony.



The FDR Four Freedoms Park is scheduled to open to the public on Wednesday October 24.

UPDATE 5:45 PM - Received this response from Four Freedoms Park Conservancy:

The Child School Chorus is the only local group performing tomorrow. They offered to participate and we accepted.

We look forward to collaborating with the principal of PS/IS public school
and her students in the future.

October 17 Dedication Of Roosevelt Island Kahn/FDR Four Freedoms Park Memorial, Here's What Happened - President Clinton Always Wanted To Come To Roosevelt Island After Reading Linda Fairstein Novel The Deadhouse

Reported yesterday on Scenes from the Roosevelt Island Kahn/FDR Four Freedoms Park Memorial Dedication Ceremony.

Here's video of the entire ceremony



Following the Ceremony, President Clinton was surrounded by people wishing to talk, touch or just be in his presence. It was quite a spectacle



Some Roosevelt Island residents managed to get their pictures taken with President Clinton including Dr. Jack Resnick talking health care,

Image From Olya Turcihin

and Photo Blogger Olya Turcihin (Olya's Urban Journal).

Image From Olya Turcihin

I managed to offer to take President Clinton on a tour of Roosevelt Island which he politely declined and then told him about the FDR Hope Memorial.



President Clinton explained that he always wanted to visit Roosevelt Island after reading Linda Fairstein's novel The Deadhouse. Ms. Fairstein is standing at President Clinton's left as we spoke.

Some Scenes From Roosevelt Island Dedication Of FDR Four Freedoms Park This Morning - A Speech From President Bill Clinton And A Visit From Google Chairman Eric Schmidt Too

Will have more later, but here are some scenes from the FDR Four Freedoms Park Dedication earlier this afternoon morning.

 Ribbon Cutting Image From John Lee

President Bill Clinton's speech at the Dedication



a visit from Google Chairman Eric Schmidt

and Press Release From NY Governor Andrew Cuomo:

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the opening of Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park, a new State Park located on Roosevelt Island in the East River.

Four Freedoms Park is an enduring tribute to the life and work of President Roosevelt, a former governor of New York State who led the nation through a tumultuous period in American and world history. The Park will open to the public on October 24.

"With the opening of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park this fall, New Yorkers and visitors from around the world will have a memorial to recognize a great leader and native New Yorker who led our nation out of the Great Depression and steered America to victory in World War II," Governor Cuomo said. "New York's state parks are a true treasure, and the addition of Four Freedoms Park will give the park system yet another location for visitors to enjoy the outdoors, while also paying tribute to President Roosevelt. I encourage New Yorkers to visit Four Freedoms Park and learn about the remarkable life, work, and vision of President Roosevelt, from his time as governor leading the Empire State to his steady hand guiding our nation as president."

The last design of the iconic American architect Louis I. Kahn, and the only design by Kahn in New York City, the four-acre Park is a major new addition to New York’s cultural and public life. The park features a granite plaza at the southern tip of Roosevelt Island, tree-lined paths and a bronze bust of Roosevelt by acclaimed portrait sculptor Jo Davidson.

Rose Harvey, Commissioner of New York State Parks, said, "New York State Parks are celebrated for connecting people to the most important and inspiring natural, cultural and historic treasures in the state. Four Freedoms State Park builds on this legacy, highlighting President Roosevelt’s remarkable vision of freedom at a critical moment in history and the artistic design of legendary architect Louis I. Kahn."

Darryl C. Towns, Commissioner/CEO of New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), who also chairs the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation, said, "Roosevelt Island has long deserved a park worthy of FDR, the island's namesake. Four Freedoms Park will serve as a powerful reminder of President Roosevelt's legacy, as well as that of the Greatest Generation who served under him in order to preserve our freedoms."

Sally Minard, President of Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park, said, "The Four Freedoms are as important and relevant today as they were when President Roosevelt first articulated them in 1941. The Park expresses these fundamental elements of modern democracy in a setting that is truly unique."

The Park has been decades in the making. Governor Nelson Rockefeller and Mayor Lindsay announced the project in 1973, appointing Kahn as its architect; Kahn died unexpectedly shortly after completing the Park’s plans and the City of New York’s financial troubles dampened momentum for the project. More than 30 years later, former Ambassador to the United Nations William vanden Heuvel and the Four Freedoms Park Conservancy spearheaded a philanthropic effort to revive the park, enabling construction to begin in 2010.

The park derives its name from a January 6, 1941 speech delivered by President Roosevelt, in which he described his vision for a world founded on four essential human freedoms: freedom of speech and expression, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.

The Park will offer a free interactive digital educational resource that visitors will be able to access on any mobile device. It will provide a multi-media narrative critical to understanding President Roosevelt’s significance, and was designed with the encouragement of the National Endowment for the Humanities with the help of historians and FDR scholars. For more information visit: http://www.fdrfourfreedomspark.org/

With the addition of Four Freedoms, the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation operates 179 state parks and 35 historic sites. Four Freedoms will be the first new State Park in New York City since East River State Park opened in Brooklyn in 2007 and the first new State Park in the state since the Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park opened outside of Poughkeepsie in 2009. Park maintenance, programming and security will be provided cooperatively by State Parks, Four Freedoms Park Conservancy, and the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation.

You can take a walk around the park too.

You Tube Video of Walk Around FDR Four Freedoms Park

Will have video of the entire ceremony later.

UPDATE 5:45 PM - Roosevelt Island Photo Blogger Olya Turcihin (Olya's Urban Journal) shares these great photos she took at today's FDR Memorial Dedication.



UPDATE 4/19- More here including video of entire dedication ceremony and video interview with President Clinton talking about Roosevelt Island.