New Water Fountain By Roosevelt Island Tram Reminds Some of Versailles - Others See It As A Waste Of Money

Image of Roosevelt Island Fountain At Night From Getezra via Yfrog

The new Roosevelt Island Water Fountain greeting passengers on their way to and from the Tram has been operational for about a month now. Getezra took this pretty nighttime photo and Tweeted:

New fountain at roosevelt island tramway circle is up and spouting

D Miller took a video of the Fountain during the daytime and named it the Roosevelt Island Fountain of Versailles - declaring it "lovely".

You Tube Video of Roosevelt Island Fountain of Versailles

Not the first time someone has made a comparison between Paris and Roosevelt Island.

Some Roosevelt Island residents commenting on this earlier post about the Fountain are not so happy with it. For instance:

That is disgusting- we don't need that, total waste of State Money.

The resident of the older part of Main Street are trying to survive here with Rent hikes, etc.

I have been here for 27 years- we had no fountain near the Tram and we did quite well.

And:

What a huge waste of funds when the Island is in such disrepair. It's gross!

More:

There are huge amounts of money being wasted here on RI, that is another example of OUR-the WIRE Building's money, rent, that is going down the drain.

Westview-27 year Resident.

It is All Sickening!! What happened to this Island, we all used to band together and say something and try to triumph!!!!

For the record, the funds for the Roosevelt Island Fountain were paid for by developers of the Riverwalk buildings complex and not by RIOC or with any other public funds. Another reader of earlier post who likes the Water Fountain commented:

Those of you who complain how bad you have it - MOVE! R.I. is a happening place, with a low crime rate (in large part because it has it's own Public Safety). Beautifying the island should be of interest to all, but instead all some people do is complain about stuff. As I said before, if it's so bad - as you say - MOVE!

I like the Water Fountain. It needs some landscaping but it does make the area around the Roosevelt Island Tram Station more attractive. However, I do understand the concerns of some that the more attractive Roosevelt Island becomes, the less likely those with low or moderate incomes will be able to afford to live on Roosevelt Island.

In other New York City Water Fountain news, the NY Times reports on the new Lincoln Center Water Fountain which is controversial to some as well.

Will Roosevelt Island Become the New Paris? Let's Ask Regina Spektor And Other Things To Do This Weekend In NYC

You Tube video of Ile de la Cite, Paris

Among the things to do this weekend could be a walk around the Manhattan and Roosevelt Island perimeter of the East River following the trail laid out by blogger Walking Off The Big Apple. But be prepared for this stunning question by the blogger.

Can Roosevelt Island, in its own special way, become a new Paris?

Now that the paramedics have revived me, let's consider the blogger's proposition.

Why not invite a comparative discussion of Roosevelt Island in New York and the Île de la Cité in Paris? The islands both occupy important geographical sites within rivers of major world cities, one in the East River and the other in the Seine. The islands both served as locations for historic prisons - Blackwell's Island Penitentiary in New York and The Conciergerie in Paris, and both incarcerated famous women - Mae West, Emma Goldman, and Billie Holiday in NYC and Marie Antoinette, Charlotte Corday, and Madame du Barry in Paris. Large hospital complexes dominate the past and present of both islands, the legacy of the ancient practice of shifting patients with contagious diseases to areas of isolation and quarantine. The Hotel Dieu, founded in 651, is the oldest hospital in France.

And:

Île de la Cité, about .75 miles from one end to the other, is smaller than the 2-mile long Roosevelt Island, and while accessible by many bridges, including the Pont Neuf, this island in Paris does not enjoy the delights of a tram system. The Parisian island has evolved greatly over the past ten centuries, and in its current state serves as headquarters for law, police, and religion, all housed in large institutional buildings. Roosevelt Island is also rapidly evolving, filling out an overall plan by Philip Johnson and John Burgee. Both islands feature basic retail and services.

Reading this, it almost makes sense to me. Almost. Like waking up from a dream and not quite sure if it was real or not. Anything in this video look like Roosevelt Island to you?

You Tube Video of L'ile de ls Cite set to Ne me quitte pas by Regina Spektor

If you are on Roosevelt Island this weekend remember Saturday's Community Action Fair at Lighthouse Park that includes recycling your old electronics and much more. From RIOC:

Community Action Fair

Goodwill Industries of Greater New York is proud to announce a “Community Action Fair” to be held on July 12th at Lighthouse Park on Roosevelt Island from 11am-4pm. Goodwill Industries together with Northwestern Mutual will sponsor over 30 organizations to connect New York City residents with public and private resources, as well as host a fun and exciting day out to the beautiful Lighthouse Park.

This free event will include:

* Education Zone- Adult classes and resources for kids!
* Green Environmental Zone- Learn about going Green!
* Clothing Donation Area- Donate clothing, computers, and household goods!
* Kids Play Area-The Natural History Moveable Museum- Kids can enjoy a Dinosaur Exhibit, as well as clowns, games, face painting, music and more!
* Business & Technology Zone- Scope out employment resources, and speak with possible employers!
* Health & Fitness Zone- Free Health Screenings provided by local healthcare professionals!
* Community Zone- Learn about services and agencies in your community!

For more information about the event please contact:
Goodwill Industries of Greater NY and Northern NJ
Youth Services Department
718.777.6315

Here's weekend listings of other things to do in New York City from NY Times Urban Eye and NY Post.