Roosevelt Island resident Janet Falk has been trying to get the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) to install bathroom facilities near the Octagon Tennis Courts for at least 2 years.
To the relief of Roosevelt Island tennis players, portable toilets
at the Octagon Tennis Court today.
and now you can at the Roosevelt Island Octagon Tennis Courts.
Since the re-opening, guidelines for the outdoor tennis courts have been updated and can be found hereA Roosevelt Island tennis player asked earlier this week:
As a reminder, courts remain open for singles play only until further notice. Players should continue to follow social distancing protocols and wear face masks/coverings when approaching the courts.
Hours of operation are 7:30 AM - 8:30 PM, 7 days a week.
There are six courts in total available for permitting. To reserve a court, log onto our reservation system here...
Is octagon open for doubles yet? RSD @96, RIRC, randalls, and 119 RSD all are.According to the RIOC Guidelines, Doubles play is still not allowed.
The Roosevelt Island Octagon Tennis courts, currently closed due to the Coronavirus Pandemic lockdown,
Tennis Courts to Reopen June 20th— RIOC NYS (@RIOCny) June 12, 2020
Please view message details at: https://t.co/tYaBbkHTA0 pic.twitter.com/xNBKmZayAD
Yellow do not enter warning tape at Roosevelt Island Capobianco Field pic.twitter.com/vNDgyYiuHe— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland) June 10, 2020
Here is the latest update from New York State for June 11, 2020
Farmers Market This Saturday
The Farmers Market will resume this Saturday in Good Shepherd Plaza from 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Please observe all social distancing guidelines.
Note: there will be NO Food Scrap Drop Off collection. If you wish for the Compost Program to return, please follow @SaveNYCCompost on twitter for more information.
New York Forward – Phase 1
The NYC region is in Phase 1 of reopening. To keep track of the region’s progress, please visit the New York Forward website at: forward.ny.gov/reopening-new-york-city
Capobianco and Pony Fields are Open – but Maintain Social Distancing
Capobianco and Pony Fields are open to the public for exercise. No team sports are allowed and social distancing practices must be followed at all times. McManus Field and Firefighters Field will remain closed until further notice to discourage team sports. We apologize for any confusion on this subject.
Reopening RIOC: Tennis Courts
Our staff has worked with members of the community to create safe initiatives we will employ when we reopen Roosevelt Island’s tennis courts on Saturday, June 20th. We will be sharing more information about our procedures in the coming days.
Capital Projects – Southpoint Park Project Moves Forward
New York Junior Tennis & Learning (NYJTL) report:
The NYJTL Free Spring Program for kids has begun!
For: All ages, 5-18
Location: Octagon Park Tennis Courts
Days & Times: Monday Wednesday Friday, 3-6 PM for kids who are 7-18 years old
Wednesday, 3:30-4:30, for kids who are 5 & 6 years old
For further information, call 347-417-8177 or write to tc@nyjtl.org
No equipment needed, Just sneakers and a smile!
This program is supported through the generosity of City Council and Council Member Ben Kallos
New York Junior Tennis and Learning Opening Day for the FREE Spring Program for Kids begins Monday, May 9th.
Program hours are 3 to 6 PM Monday through Friday for ages 8-18.
PeeWees 5, 6, 7 years of age are Tuesdays and Thursdays 3 to 4:30 PM.
Location - Octagon Park Courts
No equipment needed. Just sneakers and a smile!
... is not just tennis, it's about building character...
The New York Junior Tennis League (NYJTL) Free Summer Roosevelt Island Program has begun at the Octagon Park Tennis Courts.
Octagon Park – Opens 4/27Joyce Short reports:
Monday—Friday: 3-6 pm
Main St (North End),
Roosevelt Island, NY 10044
Site Director: Joyce Short
The FREE Springtime New York Junior Tennis and Learning program for kids has begun at the Octagon Park courts. Children aged five to eighteen are invited to attend. Little ones, five, six and 7 years old, are scheduled for Tuesdays, from 5-6 PM, and Thursdays from 3-4 PM. All children aged 7 and older may attend all five days per week. No pre-registration is required. Pee-Wees must have a parent or guardian in attendance. All children must wear clothes that are appropriate for the weather and active sports, including sneakers.Ms. Short was recently profiled in the NYJTL's Coaches Corner.
Parents can Help teach their kids how to keep score in a tennis match with a YouTube video
of our littlest Roosevelt Island participants.
Good news for Roosevelt Island tennis players.
Here's a look at the newly resurfaced
Following a previous closure due to resurfacing work, the Octagon Tennis Courts will officially re-open for free play this Saturday, June 28th at 9 AM. Tennis permit enforcement will begin on Monday, July 7th at 9 AM. Tennis permits will be available for purchase online early next week at rioc.ny.gov; an advisory will be issued with more information when permit sales begin.
Sincerely,
Roosevelt Island Operating Corp Advisories Group
Last Tuesday, May 13, the Sportspark Pool was closed due to a mechanical problem with its filtration system. Our staff has been working diligently to make repairs and restore the facility as soon as possible. We recognize the inconvenience a pool closure poses to the community and appreciate your patience while we correct the problem.
When an unexpected occurrence like a facility closure takes place, RIOC sends out notifications and updates via its RIOC Advisories email alert system as soon as possible. It is important to us to keep the community informed about what’s happening on Roosevelt Island. I encourage you to sign up for RIOC Advisories for alerts on issues such as traffic disruptions, construction, community meetings, events, and most importantly, in case of an emergency. Remember, if we can’t reach you, we can’t alert you. Sign up at http://rioc.ny.gov/advisorybody.htm.
Bike New York Event
Thank you to everyone who participated in Bike New York’s Spring Kickoff Party last Saturday. Many members of the community came out to take part in the festivities, which included a free bicycle raffle for Roosevelt Island residents, a Learn to Ride – Kids Class, a popular free bike tune-up shop, and a chance for kids to show their creativity in the bike beauty contest. BikeGuard, a free registry provided by MyAssetTag.com, also offered free aluminum tags and assistance for residents who wanted to register their bikes. With perfect weather, wonderful activities and enthusiastic participants, we could not have asked for better conditions. Many thanks go out to Bike New York for providing this fantastic event.
Bike Registration
If you missed the chance to register your bicycle at last Saturday’s event, you can still pick up registration tags and instructions for free at Public Safety’s headquarters (550 Main Street). BikeGuard allows residents to log a detailed description and photo of their bikes into an online database. The company has worked with RIOC to provide a community specific program for Roosevelt Island residents to register their bikes locally. If you report your bike lost or stolen, your local community is notified as well as Public Safety. While this notification does not take the place of an incident report filed with Public Safety, it certainly does increase the chance that your bike will be returned to you if it becomes lost or stolen.
Upcoming Activities
On June 14, Bike New York along with the Roosevelt Island Visual Art Association will gather residents under the Helix Ramp to decorate their bicycle storage container with paintings. If you’re interested in taking part in this event, please contact Caitlin Goodspeed at cgoodspeed@bikenewyork.org.
Roosevelt Island Day will be taking place next month on June 21. This event is a celebration of Spring and community spirit, with residents coming together to beautify and improve their neighborhood. After a morning spent planting and weeding, participants gather on Main Street to enjoy free games, rides, music and more. This event is sponsored by Urban American in partnership with RIOC and the Roosevelt Island Youth Program.
On June 28, RIOC’s Outdoor Summer Movie Series will kick off with a screening of Disney’s Frozen at Southpoint Park. The fun starts at 7 p.m. – bring a blanket or a chair and brush up on your movie knowledge for our trivia challenge. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. We hope you’ll join us for this fun, family-friendly movie in the park. We encourage you to visit rioc.ny.gov for more information on the event and to view the list of movies and showtimes.
Lighthouse Footbridges
An updated construction schedule for the repair of the Lighthouse Park footbridges has been released; work is scheduled to be completed by July 2014. We know the community has been eager to have full use of Lighthouse Park restored and are pleased to be moving forward on this project. We are committed to repairing the bridges as soon as possible for the enjoyment of all who visit the park. Thank you for your patience during this project.
Motorgate Garage Upgrades Complete
We are pleased to report that last week, the installation of upgraded lighting and re-striping of parking spots in the Motorgate Garage was completed. This project was necessary to ensure the safety of all who park their cars in the Garage. In the coming weeks, our Engineering team will be performing walkthroughs of the Garage to review the work that was performed.
Octagon Tennis Courts
At the Octagon Tennis Courts, the new concrete pole supports are expected to be fully cured by next week. Workers will re-take the construction site and are on schedule to complete resurfacing in late June.
Good Shepherd Community Center Restoration
Restoration work on the Good Shepherd Community Center’s entry doors and narthex at its west entrance area is also moving forward. Cleaning of the brick and limestone in the north entryway has been finished, as well as installation of the south entryway’s ceiling, interior doors and new bluestone steps at both entrances.
Notification issued 5/5/2014 at 2:30 PM. Contractors will be pouring concrete at the Octagon Tennis Courts today, Monday, May 5th. In order to allow the concrete to cure properly, workers will not be on-site during the following two to three weeks. This period is accounted for in the original construction schedule and will not delay the reopening of the Tennis Courts.More on Roosevelt Island Octagon Tennis Courts resurfacing from previous post.
Sincerely,
Roosevelt Island Operating Corp Advisories Group
Roosevelt Island resident Janet Falk is concerned about the status of the Octagon Tennis Courts
... This Spring, the Octagon Tennis Courts will be undergoing resurfacing to repair and improve the playing surface. The Tennis Courts are currently open for free play and will be closed when construction begins in the first week of April. The closure is anticipated to last for approximately two months. New 2014 permits will be issued once work is completed. We will continue to notify the community of any changes or developments....Ms Falk reports:
There were folks playing tennis on April 20 at 5:00 pm. Does this mean the re-surfacing is finished ahead of schedule or that it did not start yet?Unfortunately, the resurfacing has not yet started. During RIOC April 7 Operations Committee Meeting (audio web cast of meeting here), RIOC Engineering Director Jim Mortimer said that the Octagon Tennis resurfacing should start by the end of April and take approximately 2 months to complete. RIOC President Indelicato added that the delay in starting work was caused by a "bidding issue".
Please be advised that resurfacing of the Octagon Tennis Courts has commenced today, April 23rd. The courts are scheduled to be closed for approximately two months while work is performed. Updates on this project will be provided to the public on the RIOC website and through RIOC Advisories. Thank you for your patience.
Sincerely,
Roosevelt Island Operating Corp Advisories Group
Spring has arrived on Roosevelt Island after a particularly severe New York Winter. With the warmer weather’s return, several construction projects are moving forward and our staff has begun preparing the parks and fields for spring. The fare on the Red Bus will soon be eliminated, smoothing out Main Street traffic and making traveling on the Bus simpler as we begin the season. Down at Sportspark, the final installation of the facility’s temporary heating system is taking place – more information is below.
Red Bus Fare Elimination
As March comes to an end, RIOC would like to remind the community that the Red Bus will be free to ride beginning April 1. The elimination of the fare will help keep traffic on Main Street moving with faster boarding times, encouraging the use of mass transit on the Island. Making the Red Bus free to ride will also reduce operating costs by eliminating the need to collect fares from the buses. If you have a fare change card, please be advised that March is the last month these cards will be accepted on the bus. Once the fare is eliminated, refunds for any unused value remaining on the cards will be available at the RIOC Bus Garage (680 Main Street) until April 30, 2014.
Temporary Sportspark Closure
For many years, Roosevelt Island’s Steam Plant has supplied steam to Goldwater Hospital, the Sportspark facility, and several additional RIOC properties. Due to the closure of Goldwater Hospital, the City’s Health and Hospitals Corporation intends to close the Steam Plant permanently. In preparation for the potential closure of the Plant, RIOC is currently in the process of installing a temporary heating system at Sportspark.
This Monday and Tuesday, March 24−25, the Sportspark pool and gymnasium will be closed in order to finalize the installation of the temporary system. During this two-day closure, contractors will be installing the boiler and performing the required tie-ins to the existing system. We regret the inconvenience to the community during this time and thank you for your patience as this necessary work is completed. Please note that this will be the only closure of the facility during this installation process. Sportspark will re-open on Wednesday, March 26 at 6 a.m.
Construction Projects
Work is moving forward quickly on the West Pier. The lumber required for the repairs was delivered in the beginning of March and the installation of the decking is expected to be completed shortly. Damaged wiring has been replaced and work on the railings is in progress. Repairs are scheduled to be completed by March 31. We are pleased to be able to restore the Pier for the community’s enjoyment.
This Spring, the Octagon Tennis Courts will be undergoing resurfacing to repair and improve the playing surface. The Tennis Courts are currently open for free play and will be closed when construction begins in the first week of April. The closure is anticipated to last for approximately two months. New 2014 permits will be issued once work is completed. We will continue to notify the community of any changes or developments.
Parks & Fields
RIOC’s Grounds, Facilities and Maintenance staff are hard at work preparing the Island for Spring. New clay and grass seed is being applied to the athletic fields to ensure an optimal playing surface when the season starts on April 1. The Octagon Soccer Field will also be re-striped. The parks and fields are undergoing a general cleanup – grassy areas are being reseeded, plant beds will be fertilized, irrigation systems will be tested and inspected, and any debris left over from the Winter will be removed.
Sportspark Classes
During the Winter, many residents kept warm and stayed active with fitness and swimming classes at Sportspark. Yoga, Zumba, and Mommy & Me classes, along with free basketball and ping pong play, are a fun way to keep in shape all year round. Visit our Parks & Recreation website at rioc.recdesk.com to see a list of available programs and a class calendar. If you would like to see more programming, different classes, or if you have any questions about what is offered at the gym or pool, we welcome your feedback. You may contact us at eddie.perez@rioc.ny.gov.
In addition to offering instructed classes, the Sportspark Pool is open daily for two Open Swim sessions, one in the morning and one in the evening. You can drop in to any session (resident drop-in rates are $5), and Pool Memberships are available for those who would like to make swimming a part of their weekly routine. Swimming is a great low-impact exercise that improves strength and flexibility while being easy on joints. Both Individual and Family Memberships are available. For more information on rates and the Open Swim schedule, you can visit rioc.recdesk.com, email eddie.perez@rioc.ny.gov, or call Sportspark at 212-832-4569.
This Winter, heavy snow and freezing temperatures have kept our staff busy plowing the roads, clearing the sidewalks and maintaining the Island’s facilities during the harsh weather conditions. As the weather begins to warm up, we’re getting ready for work to move forward on new and existing capital projects. Our Grounds Department has already begun preparations for the athletic fields to re-open in early April, a new session of Mommy & Me classes is beginning soon, and other activities on the Island are picking up. We are looking forward to a warm and productive Spring on Roosevelt Island.
Spring Construction Projects
Work resumed last Friday on the West Pier after a wave of cold and snowy weather. Weather permitting, construction on the Pier is projected to be completed by the beginning of April 2014.
At the Good Shepherd Community Center, the ceiling and doors of the northern section of the west entryway are undergoing restoration off-site. Restoration architects and the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission are reviewing samples of the proposed rehabilitation work to ensure its quality. The work, which is projected to be completed before Fall 2014, will also include cleaning and restoration of the entrances’ walls and lighting.
Two meetings regarding the Good Shepherd Streetscape project have been conducted with the community, during which designs for the plantings and positioning of the benches were finalized. An RFP for the work will be issued upon the completion of the final construction drawings. We would like to extend our thanks to the community for their valuable input during this process and are looking forward to the next phase of this project.
April will mark the beginning of several important construction projects. The Octagon Tennis Courts will be resurfaced, work will begin on the Lighthouse Park footbridges, the sidewalks near the Roosevelt Island Tram Station will be repaired, and the Tram stations themselves will be repainted. While all of these developments are scheduled to begin in the first week of April, the work is weather-sensitive and will require warm temperatures to proceed. We will continue to keep the community updated as work progresses.
Eight responses to the Cultural Center’s construction Request for Proposals were received by the submission deadline (February 28). RIOC is currently evaluating the responses and beginning the rating and ranking process. A contractor will be selected and construction will begin within the next few months.
In mid-to-late March, a crane will be transported by barge to the Riverwalk Building 7 construction site. While the crane is being moved onto the Island, the East promenade will be closed for approximately half a day. An advisory will be issued to notify the public of the specific time and date of this closure.
Mommy & Me
Registration for the March-May session of Mommy & Me Water Safety classes is available online at RIOC’s new Parks & Recreation website http://rioc.recdesk.com. With the assistance of a parent or guardian, participants aged six months to three years will learn basic swimming skill sets that include submersions, blowing bubbles underwater and movement in the water. Classes are available on Sunday and Wednesday mornings – check online for times and other details. This 8-week session runs from the week of March 16 to the week of May 4, with makeup classes during the week of May 11. While four time slots are currently available, each time slot must have a minimum of 6 families preregistered in order for that class to take place. There is a maximum of 13 families per class. Online enrollment ends this coming Wednesday, March 12 – any classes that do not meet the minimum amount of participants will be combined with another time slot. If you have any questions or if you prefer to register in person, please email Eddie.Perez@rioc.ny.gov or call (212) 832-4569.
Red Bus Fares
As a reminder, the Red Bus will be free to ride beginning April 1. The decision to eliminate the fare was made in order to encourage the use of mass transit, keep traffic on Main Street moving as a result of faster boarding times, and to reduce operating costs by eliminating the need to collect fares from the buses. If you have a fare change card, please be advised that March is the last month these cards will be accepted on the bus. Once the fare is eliminated, refunds for any unused value remaining on the cards will be available at the RIOC Bus Garage (680 Main Street) until April 30, 2014.
According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC):
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a Board of Directors meeting will be held on Thursday, January 23, 2014 at 5:30 p.m. at the Child School Gymnasium, 566 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, New York, for the purpose of transacting such business as shall come before the Board.More on the appointment of Frances Walton, currently Chief Financial Officer of the NY Empire State Development Corp., as RIOC Chief Financial Officer at previous post.
* * *
The Open Meetings Law of the State of New York requires that all public bodies conduct meetings, convened for the purpose of officially conducting public business, in a manner open to attendance by the general public to observe and listen.
AGENDA
JANUARY 23, 2014 MEETING OF
THE ROOSEVELT ISLAND OPERATING CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
CHILD SCHOOL GYMNASIUM, 566 MAIN STREET, ROOSEVELT ISLAND, NEW YORK
5:30 P.M.[1]
I. Call to Order
II. Roll Call
III. Approval of Minutes
1. December 12, 2013 Board Meeting (Board Action Required)
IV. Old Business
V. New Business
1. Appointment of Frances Walton to the Position of Chief Financial Officer and Vice President for Financial Affairs of the Corporation (Board Action Required)
2. Presentation of the FY 2013-2014 QTR 3 Procurement Report
3. Ratification of Amendment of Contract with United Metro Energy Corp. for the Purchase of Gasoline and Biodiesel Fuel (Board Action Required)
4. Authorization to Enter into Contract with The Landtek Group, Inc. for the Octagon Tennis Court Resurfacing and Repairs (Board Action Required)
5. Authorization to Enter into Contract with Attri Enterprises, Inc. for the Rehabilitation of Roosevelt Island Bus Garage/Warehouse (Board Action Required)
6. Authorization to Adopt the Policy for the Use of State Vehicles (Board Action Required)
7. President's Report
8. Committee Reports
a. Audit Committee
b. Governance Committee
c. Operations Advisory Committee
d. Real Estate Development Advisory Committee
9. Public Safety Report
VI. Adjournment
The RIOC Board Meeting will commence following a public comment period. The public comment period is not part of the meeting.
For more than 3 weeks, TWO lights are out on tennis court no 4, the one used by RITA for tennis lessons in the evening.RITA is the Roosevelt Island Tennis Association. The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) has more information on Octagon Tennis courts at their web site.
I reported this issue TWICE on SeeClickFix, it was acknowledged by RIOC engineering, than closed with the answer that the lights will be replaces the week of 8/20.
The week is now over, the lights were NOT replaced.
This is NOT acceptable, and RIOC should be told that. Not to mention this year price increase for the tennis courts permits.
Tennis permits are now available at http://rioc.com/tenniscourts.htm
Permits will be available for pickup TODAY from 6pm to 8pm at Sportspark (250 Main Street). Please pay for your permits online before coming in to pick them up. After today's special pickup hours, tennis permits will be able to be retrieved on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 4pm to 8pm at Sportspark.
Tennis turnstiles will remain open until Monday, May 14 to allow a grace period to get your permit processed.
I have been waiting to sing up for the outdoor courts tennis pass, but its has not been available on line as of yet and the gates are closed, do you know when can we apply for the pass since it will take 10days-2 weeks to obtain it,The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) permit web page currently indicates:
thank you
Tennis permit applications for the 2012 season will be available in late- March. PLEASE DO NOT FILL OUT A FIELD PERMIT APPLICATION.I asked RIOC Vice President of Operations Fernando Martinez when the Roosevelt Island outdoor tennis court permits would be available. RIOC's Press Spokesperson replied:
The permits will be available the second week of May.Tennis Permit Applications will be available online here.
This Friday, June 24th, will be the last day of the Spring program. There will be a tournament for 6, 7 and 8 year olds on Saturday 6/25 from 1-4 PM.The Roosevelt Island NY Junior League Tennis Program takes place at the Octagon Tennis Courts.
We will have an awards presentation for all the children on Friday. Parents are welcome and encouraged to bring cameras and all children are encouraged to bring snacks to share.
The NYJTL summer program will begin on July 5th. Our hours this summer will be
Mon- Wed- Fri, 9-12 AM, ages 7 to 18It has truly been a pleasure to see the joy and improvement in your children as they develop their skills. On behalf of my staff and I, we look forward to working with them over the summer months.
Wed- 9:30-11, Pee-Wees, 5,6,7 (for 45 minutes only- must be accompanied by a parent)
Tuesday and Thursday, 1-4 PM, ages 10 to 18
Image of Octagon Tennis Courts From RIOCThe NY Jr Tennis League's free tennis program for children aged 5 through 18 will roll out its new Spring format on Thursday, May 19th. at the Octagon Park courts. The Spring program, which will run until June 24th, will utilize the new "10 and Under Tennis" format promoted by the USTA. Court size and ball speed are scaled down for pint-sized participants. The overall tennis program will be offered for all ages of children, 7 to 18, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. This season, there will be no Tuesday or Thursday programming hours. Programming on Wednesdays will also include 5 to 7 year olds from 3:30 to 5 PM.More information on NYJTL Community Tennis Program here.
Children do not need equipment, just sneakers and a smile! The NY Jr. Tennis League is made avaialble free of charge through the generosity of Council Member Jessica Lappin, Council Speaker Christina Quinn and the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation. For further information, call League headquarters at 718-786-7110 or log onto NYJTL.
Image of Octagon Tennis Courts From RIOCOctagon Park Youth Tennis CenterClick on image below for more information including how to register.
Main Street, Roosevelt Island
Opens 5/2/2011 Monday – Friday: 3pm-6pm
Funded By City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn & Council Member Jessica S. Lappin
For more info and a complete list of NYJTL Community Tennis Programs, visit or call (347) 417-8156
