Come In Your Scariest And Spookiest Costume For The Annual Roosevelt Island Main Street Halloween Parade & Extravaganza Taking Place Saturday October 26 - Four Freedoms Park Halloween Pop Up Library And iDig2Learn City Of Forest Day On October 26 Too

According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC):

Dear Roosevelt Island Community:

 

We will have three special events happening on the island this Saturday, October 26th that we wanted to make sure were marked on your calendars!

RIOC Halloween Parade & Extravaganza 

The spooky season is upon us and this year RIOC is once again excited to host its annual Halloween Parade & Extravaganza on Saturday, October 26^th!

 

This year’s event will once again kick-off with a parade down Main Street and proceed all the way to Southpoint Park, where we’ll be hosting Halloween fun for the whole family featuring food, music, pumpkin decorating, inflatable amusements and more!

 

PARADE DETAILS

 

Parade participants will gather at 10:00 AM at Capobianco Field (opposite 595 Main Street) then proceed down Main Street starting at 10:45AM to Southpoint Park for the Extravaganza.

 

 Event Information

• 10:00 AM - Parade organizes at Capobianco Field.
• 10:45 AM - Parade kick-off, led by PSD/Grounds vehicle. The Parade will head south on Main Street, passing the business district, proceeding to the Blackwell turnaround. Once at Blackwell, the parade will continue south on West Road, passing the subway, ending at Southpoint Park.
• 11:00 AM - Enter Southpoint Park. Attendees wishing to park strollers will be directed to a designated area outside the park.
• 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM - If you can’t make the Halloween parade, feel free to join us at Southpoint Park for the Extravaganza! Pumpkin decorating, amusements, food, music, giveaways and more!

Halloween Pop-Up Library at Four Freedoms State Park

The Four Freedoms Park Conservancy is hosting a special Halloween pop-up library and pumpkin decorating event on Saturday, October 26th from 11 AM to 4PM. Come grab a book and decorate a FREE pumpkin (while supplies last). There are a limited numbers of pumpkins, so registration is strongly encouraged at the link here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/halloween-pop-up-library-tickets-1048260363967

 

City of Forest Day at Lighthouse Park 

iDig2Learn, MSTDA, Coler Hospital and more are once again hosting their annual "City of Forest Day" at Lighthouse Park from 2:30PM to 5:30PM. The event will include:

• Tree Care: Mulching, Weeding, Planting & Adding New Tree Labels (2:30PM-5:30PM)
• Sample Niava's Body Butters (while supplies last) (2:30 PM)
• A Performance by Jody Sperling's Time Lapse Dance  (3PM-3:15PM)
• Artist Nikki Lindt's Underground Listening & Drawing Experience (3:30PM-5PM)
• Plogging (3:30PM-4:30PM)

This event is free to the public and all ages are welcome!

Here are scenes

from last year's Roosevelt Island Main Street Halloween Parade.

Roosevelt Island Public Safety And NYPD Forced To Shut Down Cj Hendry's Flower Market Public Art Installation At FDR 4 Freedoms Park Today Due To Large Crowds - Over 5 Thousand People Showed Up Today

As reported yesterday, 

the Roosevelt Island FDR 4 Freedoms Park was hosting "Flower Market" public art installation by artist Cj Hendry this weekend:

... Cj is thrilled to announce her upcoming exhibition Flower Market, a stunning new collaboration with global luxury beauty brand Clé de Peau Beauté and in partnership with Four Freedoms Park Conservancy. Known for creating art on a grand scale, Cj’s latest extraordinary exhibit is no different and features a 120-foot by 40-foot greenhouse built on the lawn of the FDR Four Freedoms State Park on Roosevelt Island. The greenhouse will be filled with 100,000 meticulously crafted plush flowers inspired by the natural radiance and botanicals used in Clé de Peau Beauté products....

Visitors were encouraged to register for free tickets but this morning the Roosevelt Island Flower Market location was overwhelmed with crowds of visitors without tickets. At least 5 thousand people showed up at the gates to Southpoint Park and FDR 4 Freedoms Park 

to attend the Flower Market exhibition.

@Rooseveltisland @4FreedomsPark the event is getting shutdown by NYPD for being over capacity. @RIOCny

— Jim Joseph (@JimJosephNYC) September 14, 2024

A Tipster reported: 

 Chaos at south point park, public safety “closed” the flower event due to overcrowding and are telling everyone to exit the park, terrible organization and communication! Hundreds of people still on their way and there is no info on any socials about this so maybe you can share!”. Hoping to avoid another Cherry Blossom Festival disaster

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Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department (PSD) and the NYPD were forced to close the park in the morning due to the large crowds.

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RIOC PSD Chief Kevin Brown was at the subway station explaining to a woman that the Flower Market exhibition was closed due to overcrowding.

According to FDR 4 Freedom Parks Conservancy CEO Howard Axel:

We had to shut down the event in an abundance of caution. And the good folks from NYPD and PSD are assisting us. The event is over and we will open the gates as soon as we can to regular park visitors.

After the park was closed, the line of people already inside was 3 hours long to get into the Flower Market greenhouse

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.

Fortunately, the crowd was well behaved and took the long line in good cheer for the most part.

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The Flower Market at 4 Freedoms Park was cancelled for today and tomorrow. Cj Hendry explains:

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The event was moved to Industry City tomorrow in Brooklyn.

Roosevelt Island clearly cannot handle events with these type of large crowds. Fortunately, Roosevelt Island PSD and the NYPD were able to safely control the crowds and avoid a repeat of the dangerous overcrowded chaos caused by the 2019 Cherry Blossom Festival.

Today's Roosevelt Island Fall For Arts Festival was not impacted at all 

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by the overcrowding at Southpoint and FDR Park.

Sponsored Post - Roosevelt Island FDR 4 Freedoms Park Hosting Cj Hendry's Flower House Public Art Installation, Custom Greenhouse On Lawn Filled With 100 Thousand Meticulously Crafted Plush Flowers - Martha Stewart Pick Up Her Plush Flower Bouquet At Preview Last Night

The FDR 4 Freedoms Park Conservancy invites you to Cj Hendry's "Flower Market' public art installation this weekend.

According to the FDR 4 Freedoms Park:

REGISTER HERE to get a FREE FLOWER!

Four Freedoms Park Conservancy is thrilled to announce our upcoming event: FLOWER MARKET by Cj Hendry. Known for creating art on a grand scale, Cj’s latest extraordinary exhibit is no different and features a 120-foot by 40-foot greenhouse built on the lawn of the FDR Four Freedoms State Park on Roosevelt Island. The greenhouse will be filled with 100,000 meticulously crafted plush flowers inspired by the Roosevelts and in celebration of the United Nations General Assembly.

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A VIP preview was held last night. Among the guests taking home a bouquet was Martha Stewart.

Clé de Peau Beauté and Artist Cj Hendry Bring ‘Flower Market’ to Roosevelt Island https://t.co/xEVjDRjY0m

— WWD (@wwd) September 13, 2024

Take a look inside the Cj Hendry's Flower Market exhibit at the FDR 4 Freedoms Park

and visit the Flower Market greenhouse the weekend for your plush flower. (Was just advised that registrations are now full - Sorry)

Why a custom greenhouse and why Roosevelt Island for the Flower Market?

Cj Hendry explains:

To be able to execute the concept to its fullest, we had to attack everything with a sense of scale. We looked at a little flower shop in the city and at other locations but it didn't seem quite right, so we really worked hard to make sure that we were able to get the greenhouse in the most extraordinary location that we could. It’s really exciting to take something like a greenhouse and place it in the middle of New York City where it has no right to be.

Roosevelt Island is iconic in so many ways. Franklin D Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park, in my opinion, is an architectural marvel. The fact that it's between Brooklyn and Manhattan on its own island within New York, I just love it. Also, FDR Four Freedoms Park on Roosevelt Island doesn't do too many collaborations. They don't allow too many people onto the island to do exhibitions like this, so it’s an incredible privilege we’ve been granted. I'm so grateful they're on board with me as an artist and Clé de Peau Beauté as a brand.

More info on Cj Hendry's Flower Market exhibit from this press release:

Cj is thrilled to announce her upcoming exhibition Flower Market, a stunning new collaboration with global luxury beauty brand Clé de Peau Beauté and in partnership with Four Freedoms Park Conservancy. Known for creating art on a grand scale, Cj’s latest extraordinary exhibit is no different and features a 120-foot by 40-foot greenhouse built on the lawn of the FDR Four Freedoms State Park on Roosevelt Island. The greenhouse will be filled with 100,000 meticulously crafted plush flowers inspired by the natural radiance and botanicals used in Clé de Peau Beauté products.

One significant botanical that inspired Cj was the Radiant Lily found in Clé de Peau Beauté’s The Serum, an iconic skincare product beloved by Cj. “The meticulous craftsmanship in CPB’s products really resonates with me and mirrors my own process” says Cj. The plush Lilies will be on display, alongside Cj’s 12 original drawings created for this exhibition. Among the other flowers on display are a bouquet inspired by the Roosevelt family; the yellow Eleanor Roosevelt Rose, Tulips for the Roosevelt family's Dutch heritage, red Roses symbolizing the "Roosevelt" name (field of roses), and Peonies, the signature flower of the Roosevelt farm.

“When the architect Louis Kahn designed this memorial, he said, ‘The garden is somehow a personal kind of control of nature.’ A lot of my work, and in this exhibition especially, is about manipulating my environments and building a space that takes participants out of their ordinary. I hope Flower Market inspires joy and beauty well after the greenhouse is empty, every time we see flowers - plush or otherwise.”- Cj Hendry

Visitors are invited to explore the vibrant field of flowers and take one home with them. Those who cannot experience Flower Market in person can explore a virtual flower market and personalize their own plush white Lily inspired by the Radiant Lily.

“I am thrilled to share this collaboration between Clé de Peau Beauté and Cj Hendry,” says Alessio Rossi, Executive Vice President Clé de Peau Beauté US Marketing.“This partnership embodies the essence of our brand, known for its intelligence, uncompromising standards, and exquisite quality. Cj Hendry's remarkable ability to engage audiences through her masterful craftsmanship and thought-provoking social commentary on luxury perfectly resonates with our values."

CEO of Four Freedoms Park Conservancy, Howard Axel, adds,"We were immediately excited to work with such an exceptional contemporary artist as Cj Hendry and help share her magical work with tens of thousands of visitors. She captures the vision of Louis Kahn and his design 'to be a place of inspired use' as she encourages visitors to see the park through her eyes!"

Open to the public from 10am- 4pm on September 13-15, the plush-filled greenhouse and artworks will be on display for all to enjoy. Stop in and smell the roses.

Exhibit Details: September 13-15 10am - 4pm

Free Ticket Registration:

flowermarket.nyc

Visitors are invited to explore the vibrant field of flowers and take one home with them. Those who cannot experience Flower Market in person can explore a virtual flower market and personalize their own plush white Lily inspired by the Radiant Lily.

Unfortunately, registrations are now full.

You're Invited To 17th Annual Waterfront Alliance City Of Water Day Saturday July 13 - Come Celebrate With iDig2Learn At Roosevelt Island FDR Four Freedoms Park And Many Other New York And New Jersey Waterfront Locations

You're invited to the Waterfront Alliance City Of Water Day celebration at Roosevelt Island's FDR Four Freedoms Park Saturday July 13.

Roosevelt Island resident and iDig2Learn founder Christina Delfico reports: 

FDR Four Freedoms State Park & iDig2Learn team up again to celebrate 2024 City of Water Day on Roosevelt Island at the Park. City of Water Day is a NY/NJ wide day with events citywide started by NY/NJ Hudson & Estuary Program & the Water Alliance. FREE and family friendly join us for water-themed crafts, pop-up library and a touch table of aquatic plants with iDig2Learn.

According to the Waterfront Alliance:

Get ready for the 17th Annual City of Water Day, set for Saturday, July 13! This regional day of celebration will see 60+ free, family-friendly events on or near the water, and is the perfect way to cool off this summer and engage with your local waterfront. Organized by the Waterfront Alliance and the New York–New Jersey Harbor & Estuary Program (HEP), City of Water Day champions the idea of a climate-resilient harbor and raises awareness about our changing climate.

Like every year, a wide array of festivities will span the entire region—from all five New York City boroughs to Westchester and Rockland counties, and across New Jersey. You can engage in a plethora of waterfront activities — kayaking, rowing, sailing, boat tours, educational workshops, coastal cleanups, nature walks, film screenings, and more! These events not only offer fun and learning, but also foster a deep connection with local waterways, emphasizing an equitably shared and resilient waterfront.

We’ve curated a list of event highlights, organized by area, so you can dive into a City of Water Day event near you. This is just a small sample of what City of Water Day has to offer —you can also check out the City of Water Day map for even more events!...

Here's what we learned about the NYC waterfront at the 2023 

and 2022

Roosevelt Island City of Water Day celebrations.

More info about the Waterfront Alliance

available at their website.

Sponsored Post - You're Invited To A Free Thought Provoking Panel Discussion On The History, Impact and Ongoing Challenges Surrounding Banned Books In The U.S. At The Roosevelt Island FDR Four Freedoms Park May 16 - Sign Up Now To Secure Your Seat

The Roosevelt Island FDR Four Freedoms Park is hosting:

... a free thought-provoking May 16 panel discussion on the history, impact and ongoing challenges surrounding banned books in the U.S.

According to the FDR Four Freedom Park:

Beyond the Ban: Exploring the Landscape of Banned Books

Thursday, May 16 · 5 - 7pm

Join us for a lively discussion on controversial books that have been banned or challenged throughout history.

Come join us at Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms State Park for a thought-provoking discussion on banned books. Moderated by renowned journalist and editor Katrina vanden Heuvel, our panel of experts will delve into the controversial world of literature that has been censored or challenged throughout history. Discover the stories behind these banned books and explore the importance of freedom of expression. Don't miss out on this enlightening event!

Thank you to NYS OPRHP and NYS Natural Heritage Trust for the support for this free public program.

Make sure to register here to secure your spot.

Here's more on the fight over banned books in the U.S.

Register here for your seat at the May 16 FDR Four Freedoms Park Beyond the Ban: Exploring the Landscape of Banned Books panel discussion.

Sponsored Post - Volunteers Needed At Roosevelt Island FDR Four Freedoms State Park, Join Us For I Love My Park Day Saturday May 4 - Help Revitalize, Assemble, Repair And Repaint The Banned Book Library, Symbol Of Freedom Of Speech And Expression

The Roosevelt Island FDR Four Freedoms State Park is hosting I Love MY Park Day on Saturday May 4.

According to the FDR 4 Freedoms State Park

Join us on Saturday, May 4th for a special I Love My Park Day as we celebrate the Centennial of New York State Parks! Lend a hand to beautify FDR Four Freedoms State Park, a stunning memorial honoring freedom and democracy. During this election year, we are creating a Banned Book Library to remind park visitors of the importance of freedom of speech and expression.

• Free! Registration required
• Appropriate for ages 13+

Here’s how you can make a difference:

Revitalize the Banned Book Library: Assemble, repair, and repaint the unique Banned Book Library, a symbol of freedom of speech and expression. This will also be a fun arts and craft activity as we create books for the shelves!

Spruce Up the Seating: Refurbish, clean and prep 60 Adirondack chairs for the Great Lawn, ensuring a comfortable spot to relax and enjoy the park’s scenic views.

Mulch Matters: Rake and replenish mulch around the 120 Little Lead Linden tree pits, providing essential nutrients and moisture for a healthy park environment.

No experience necessary! We’ll provide all the tools and training you need. It’s a fun and rewarding day to give back to your community and make a lasting impact on this historic park. 

REGISTER HERE.

Contact Zoe Peerman at zpeerman@fdrffp.org if you have any questions!

Here's the 2023 FDR Four Freedoms State Park Banned Book Library.

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You can also help support the FDR Four Freedoms Park 

by adopting an Adirondack Chair for a donation of $250 or more.