Roosevelt Island celebrated the Americans With Disabilities Act on Friday, July 16 with the ribbon cuttng and unveiling of the FDR Hope Memorial which depicts President Franklin D Roosevelt sitting in his wheelchair greeting a young girl standing on her crutches at Jim Bates and Nancy Brown Plaza in Southpoint Park.
As previously reported, here are the remarks from Roosevelt Island Disabled Association (RIDA) President Wendy Hersh
and FDR Hope Memorial Chair Marc Diamond describing the 12 year effort to
build the FDR Hope Memorial and bring it to Roosevelt Island.
More on the history of the 12 year effort to build the FDR Hope Memorial and bring it to Roosevelt Island at this post from yesterday.
It was particularly fitting that after the
12 year struggle of starts and stops
to build the
FDR Hope Memorial
depicting President Franklin Roosevelt sitting in his wheelchair greeting a
young girl standing on crutches and bring it to Roosevelt Island that the ribbon
cutting and sculpture unveiling ceremony
began with the song Imagine.
Here's Roosevelt Island resident and Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance
(MST&DA) Assistant
Executive Director
Kimbirdlee Fadner
singing Imagine to begin yesterday's ceremony.
It was an incredibly hot and humid afternoon today for the FDR Hope Memorial
ribbon cutting and sculpture unveiling ceremony but that did not stop
residents and visitors alike from having a wonderful time.
The FDR Hope Memorial depicts President Franklin Roosevelt, as he lived in his
wheelchair, greeting a young girl standing on crutches.
Here's the ribbon cutting.
Also, remarks from Roosevelt Island Disabled Association (RIDA) President Wendy Hersh
and FDR Hope Memorial Chair Marc Diamond describing the 12 year effort to
build the FDR Hope Memorial and bring it to Roosevelt Island.
More on the history of the 12 year effort to build the FDR Hope Memorial and bring it to Roosevelt Island at Southpoint Park at this post from yesterday.
Stay tuned for more video from today's FDR Hope Ceremony.
The Roosevelt Island
FDR Hope Memorial
depicting President Franklin D. Roosevelt sitting in a wheelchair greeting a
young girl standing on crutches will be unveiled Saturday July 17 at Southpoint
Park. Yesterday, the box covering the Memorial was partially removed revealing
the statue figures of FDR and young girl.
According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC):
Tomorrow, Saturday, July 17th, Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) and the Roosevelt Island Disabled Association (RIDA) plan to celebrate the 31st anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with the unveiling of the FDR Hope Memorial, an immersive work of art commemorating the progressive former U.S. president and disability advocate, Franklin D. Roosevelt. Join us at Southpoint Park for the celebratory ribbon-cutting. Attendees able to utilize grass areas surrounding the memorial will be asked to do so. Special accommodations can be made, onsite, upon request for those who require them. The event will start promptly at 12:00pm.
RIDA President
Wendy Hersh spoke briefly about the fight and struggles to get a memorial
depicting President Roosevelt sitting in his wheelchair built on
Roosevelt Island during a portion of this interview with the CUNY TV program Diverse City.
Starting in 2009, the Roosevelt Island Disabled Association (RIDA) and a group
of local supporters began a campaign to build a memorial to President Franklin
D Roosevelt depicting him as he lived, sitting in a wheelchair. The campaign
was initiated upon learning that the proposed FDR 4 Freedoms Park designed by
architect Louis Kahn ignored the fact that FDR was a disabled person.
As reported in February 2009:
... the proposed Kahn/FDR memorial also fails to acknowledge FDR as a man
and a President of the United States who achieved greatness despite a
disability that forced him into a wheelchair. The absence, in any meaningful
way, of FDR's use of a wheelchair or crutches is particularly shameful given
the large disabled and handicapped community at Roosevelt Island's
Coler-Goldwater Hospital complex.
A similar controversy arose at the
FDR Memorial in Washington DC....
... A great idea for an appropriate and honorable FDR Memorial on Roosevelt
Island was suggested by
Roosevelt Island's Doctor Jack Resnick who treats many of our disabled residents.
Somebody designed a memorial to FDR on Roosevelt Island that completely
ignored the man’s physical disability. Franklin Roosevelt spent much of his
adult life in a wheelchair. The polio virus, which infected him in 1921 at
the age of 39, left him with almost no use of his legs. Twelve years later
he became President of the United States. He went on to save the country
from economic calamity and the world from Hitler....
...Roosevelt Island is a living, breathing memorial to FDR. And when we
celebrated FDR Day here each year, it was clear that we were focused on FDR
as an icon for the disabled.
The FDR Memorial on this Island should focus on the President’s strength in
conquering his disability. Many possibilities come to mind. For instance, he
should not be memorialized with a bust. We should see a
greater-than-life-sized statue of him sitting in a wheelchair – and he
should face north toward Goldwater and Coler Hospitals...
Shortly thereafter, in response to my inquiry, the RIDA Board Of
Directors including then President Virginia Granato, Jim Bates, Nancy Brown
and Gloria Narduzzo
On behalf of the Roosevelt Island Disabled Association and it's many disabled
members we want to voice our opposition to a glaring deficit in the current
proposal for the FDR Memorial to be built at the Southern tip of Roosevelt
Island.
President Roosevelt was disabled by Polio before he was elected President of
the United States and used a wheelchair almost exclusively. A statue of
President Roosevelt sitting in a wheelchair or standing with the help of his
crutches would be most appropriate here on an Island where many disabled
people reside, both in apartments and in the two chronic care hospitals. In
the same manner that our first black president, Barack Obama, has inspired so
many school- aged black children to aspire to higher achievements, once
thought to be impossible, such a memorial would have the same effect on the
disabled community when viewing a statue of one of our most beloved presidents
and realizing that he, too, was disabled and was able to overcome his
disability and be elected to the highest office in the country. What an
inspiration that would be for the multitude of disabled visitors, especially
our wheelchair bound war veterans returning from Iraq, to visualize that
despite their disability anything is possible. The memorial, as shown in the
artist's sketches. does not portray FDR as disabled and we feel that this is
an injustice to us all. It is said that “A picture is worth a thousand words.”
In this instance, a statue of FDR depicted as our first disabled President
would speak volumes to the millions of visitors, disabled and non-disabled who
will be visiting The FDR Memorial for generations to come.
Roosevelt Island Disabled Association Board of Directors and it's members
RIDA members also protested against
the failure to include representation of FDR's disability at Roosevelt Island
public meetings regarding the FDR 4 Freedoms Park.
... WHEREAS the continued resident population of Roosevelt Island, uniquely
composed in significant part of many disabled persons, residing both
independently in apartments or within the two chronic care hospitals located
on the island, renders a true portrayal of President Roosevelt more meaningful
and poignant on Roosevelt Island than any in any other location; and
THEREFORE, NOW BE IT RESOLVED that the Roosevelt Island Residents Association
supports a plan for the Four Freedoms Park that includes a celebration of
President Roosevelt as a disabled person by depicting him in a wheelchair or
on crutches.
-Adopted by the Common Council of the Roosevelt Island Residents Association
6/3/09...
Following these protests, in June 2009, Ambassador William vanden Heuvel, chair of the
FDR 4 Freedoms Park
sent a letter to RIDA offering to help in their efforts to recognize FDR as a
disabled person.
He wrote:
The Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute greatly appreciates the
interest of the Roosevelt Island disabled community regarding the Four
Freedoms Park which is to be built on Southpoint. Those who took the trouble
to come to the recent meeting are absolutely right – we must find a way to
tell our universal audience of FDR’s disability and the important role it
played in his greatness as President of the United States. I never give a
speech about FDR without telling the story of his disability....
... Somehow we must find a way to convey this incredible story to those who
visit Southpoint. Building on our initial meeting, we will work with
representatives of Roosevelt Island to achieve that objective. We are
grateful to Virginia Granato and Dr. Resnick for their effective
presentation. Our task is to work together to find a way to accomplish our
mutual purpose, honoring a great President and remembering the qualities of
character that enabled him to lead our country so well.
Ambassador vanden Heuvel and the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute did
help RIDA by securing the first $100 thousand donation and have been
working together since to bring the
FDR Hope Memorial to Roosevelt Island.
Jim Bates became President of RIDA after Virginia Granato stepped down.
"Uncle" Jim established the
FDR Hope Memorial Committee
and became a tireless advocate for the FDR Hope Memorial working with RIOC to
find a location site in Southpoint Park, fundraising and selecting the sculptor, Meredith Bergmann, to design and build the FDR Hope Memorial
There were setbacks and delays but at all times Uncle Jim with the help of
local resident Marc Diamond and other members of the FDR Hope Memorial
Committee persevered. In 2012 sculptor
Meredith Bergmann
presented a mock up of the sculpture to the Committee.
The design originally included a representation of FDR's desk but that was not included in final version due to cost cutbacks.
In 2015, Roosevelt Island
NY State Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright
visited Southpoint Park to announce a $150 thousand anonymous gift donation
for the FDR Hope Memorial.
"Uncle" Jim Bates added:
... Hopefully this will inspire people around the world and challenge the
disabled community that they are an enabled community and they can be whatever
they choose to be.
Virginia Granato spoke about her feelings that day too.
There were more delays and difficulties for the FDR Hope Memorial but in 2019,
RIOC, under former President Susan Rosenthal took control of funding the project to completion and finally opening to the
public tomorrow.
It is sad that both
"Uncle" Jim Bates and
Virginia Granato
passed away before they could see the unveiling of the FDR Hope Memorial
tomorrow but their vision of "enabled, not disabled" was continued by current RIDA President Wendy Hersh and will live on and inspire
others who visit the FDR Hope Memorial in the days to come.
For disclosure purposes, I am a member of the FDR Hope Memorial Committee.
Here's RIOC press release.
UPDATE 7/17 - FDR Hope Memorial Ribbon Cutting Ceremony today.
You Tube Video of FDR Hope Memorial Rehearsal Mock Up Interview
Are you looking for a last minute Christmas present idea or to make a contribution to a worthy Roosevelt Island cause? If so, please consider making a donation to the FDR Hope Memorial.
FDR Hope Memorial Chair and Roosevelt Island Disabled Association (RIDA) President Jim Bates explains:
Help us build the first memorial to FDR that focuses on his disability. We need to build this monument because people with disability, while loved, are pitied because it's believed they cannot achieve anything substantial or independently. We need to dispel this belief which can even afflict people who are disabled themselves.
We are a group of people who live or work on Roosevelt Island in New York City — some of us are disabled, some are doctors, therapists, and others involved with the disabled. We have come together under the auspices of the Roosevelt Island Disabled Association to create a monument to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who is a hero to our community: a man who, despite being crippled by polio, became a four-term president of the United States.
We have reached the following milestones and now ask for your support which we need to bring this project to fruition.
We have been awarded a site for our monument in Southpoint Park as you approach Four Freedoms Park.
We have raised $263,000 from Four Freedoms Park, New York City and New York State.
We have commissioned artist Meredith Bergmann and approved a design based on half-height figures.
The artist is now working on the full-size figures which will be cast in bronze; the finished monument will be beautiful and inspiring.
You will be helping us erect a monument not just to what one man has done but to what all of us --enabled not disabled-- can do.
Why Portray FDR as disabled?
FDR hid that he had polio because he didn't want his disability to limit himself or his aspirations to change the world. We live today, in part thanks to him, in a different kind of society, and portraying his disability honors him today in a way in which it couldn't in the 1930s.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was one of the greatest presidents of the United States of America. FDR served four terms and presided over the war that shocked the world: World War II. FDR had polio - a life-threatening and physically mauling disability.
The message of his life is that regardless of the struggle, the disadvantage, the disability, you can do great things. Through our memory of his life the disabled are enabled. The purpose of this memorial is to remind and inspire all, especially those with disability: You can do great things. You are enabled and free to pursue your dreams. The purpose of this call for support is to make this memorial on Roosevelt Island a reality and raise a beacon of hope and truth for years to come. Please give.
How You Can Help
We need to get to $300,000. We are asking for gifts of any size: $10, $20, $100, $350,or even ten thousand. But even it it's a dollar, and you add your name to the list of people who support this project, your support will be invaluable. You will inspire us, and show other people we approach for help that our dream has won the support of many people...
... celebrate President Franklin D. Roosevelt as the inspiration for all who strive to overcome challenges. According to the memorial’s mission statement, “Roosevelt Island was so named to reflect a commitment to an integrated community where the disabled move freely, live independently and develop to their fullest potential. The FDR Hope Memorial will educate future generations about FDR and about Roosevelt Island, a vital community of ‘enabled’ residents.”...
and:
... A sculpture of President Franklin D. Roosevelt seated in a wheelchair, interacting with a disabled child, is planned for Roosevelt Island in New York City. The FDR Hope Memorial will be located at Southpoint Park, just south of the hospital where survivors of polio, the disease that disabled Roosevelt, benefited from the pioneering use of ventilators that freed them from the constraints of “iron lungs.”...
Last Saturday, sculptor Meredith Bergmann presented a rehearsal mock up of the FDR Hope Memorial
Image of FDR Hope Memorial Rehearsal Mock Up At Southpoint Park
Here's a brief interview with Ms. Bergmann as well as Jim Bates, President of the Roosevelt Island Disabled Association and Chairperson of the FDR Hope Memorial Committee.
You Tube Video of FDR Hope Memorial Rehearsal Mock Up Interview
As Committee members were looking at the rehearsal mock up of the sculpture, a number of visitors to Southoint Park stopped by to find out what was going on and to ask questions. Some of the visitors did not know that FDR was a disabled person, demonstrating the importance and need for this FDR Memorial.
Roosevelt Island Historical Society President Judy Berdy reports that a former Interim Minister at the Good Shepherd Church is giving a free talk at the NY Academy of Medicine on:
Section on the History of Medicine: Franklin Delano Roosevelt: A Famous Patient
Date: September 27, 2012
Time: 5:30PM - 7:00PM
Light refreshments at 5:30 p.m., Lecture at 6:00 p.m.
Speaker(s):
Curtis W. Hart, M.Div.
Sponsored by: Section on the History of Medicine and Public Health and the Heberden Society
Location: The New York Academy of Medicine, 1216 Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street, New York, NY 10029
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the longest serving (1933-1945) president in United States history. Elected to the presidency four times, he guided the country through the Great Depression and led it to victory in World War II. Roosevelt was afflicted with polio in 191 when he was thirty-nine years old. Recent biographical studies have brought to light the extraordinary partnership between Roosevelt and his physician, George Draper, M.D., who was both a clinician and faculty member at Columbia. Draper's therapeutic partnership with Roosevelt sustained him during the most trying time of his illness. Though Roosevelt was never able to walk again, with the help of Dr. Draper and others he did not lose hope and was able to re-emerge and return to his political career. The relationship between Roosevelt and Draper embodies the character of the healing partnership between doctor and patient. This presentation will describe something of that relationship. It will also show how Roosevelt's struggle with illness contributed to what has been called his "first rate temperament" and his personal designation as "Old Doc Roosevelt," both of which became significant personal components of his presidency.
About the Speaker(s)
Curtis W. Hart is Lecturer in Public Health, Medicine, and Psychiatry, Division of Medical Ethics at Weill Cornell Medical College and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Religion and Health. At Weill Cornell he is active in teaching medical students, serves on the Institutional Review Board and is a participant in the Department of Psychiatry's Section in the History of Psychiatry. An ordained Episcopal priest, he is a graduate of Harvard College, A.B. cum laude and Union Theological Seminary, where he received his Master of Divinity. He is the author of numerous articles, book chapters and book reviews in professional and academic publications including essays on J. Robert Oppenheimer, William James and Paul Tillich. He is a Fellow of both The New York Academy of Medicine and the Society for Values in Higher Education. He lives in Tarrytown, New York.
Also, the FDR Hope Memorial Committee is seeking to honor and recognize President Franklin D Roosevelt's great achievements despite the challenges he faced due to his health issues. The FDR Hope Committee is working to create a sculpture of FDR sitting in a wheelchair with a girl in braces standing next to him and install it at Southpoint Park on Roosevelt Island. Here's more information on the FDR Hope Memorial.
Children Standing Next To FDR Wheelchair Statue in Washington DC Image From Carol
After many, many years of paying absolutely no attention to the wishes and desires of Roosevelt Island residents in regard to the proposed Kahn/FDR Memorial at Southpoint Park, the Franklin & Eleanor Roosevelt Institute (FERI) now claim an interest in working together with the Roosevelt Island Disabled Association (RIDA) in finding a way to recognize FDR's overcoming of his disability.
FERI sent this letter to the Directors of RIDA.
The Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute greatly appreciates the interest of the Roosevelt Island disabled community regarding the Four Freedoms Park which is to be built on Southpoint. Those who took the trouble to come to the recent meeting are absolutely right – we must find a way to tell our universal audience of FDR’s disability and the important role it played in his greatness as President of the United States. I never give a speech about FDR without telling the story of his disability. He was a man of incomparable personal courage. At the age of 39, he was stricken with infantile paralysis. He would never again walk or stand alone unassisted. He had endured almost unimaginable pain. He had to learn to move again, to stand, to rely upon the strength of others. He never gave in to despair, to self-pity, to discouragement. Just twelve years after he was stricken he was elected President of our country, itself paralyzed by the most fearful economic Depression of its history. He renewed America’s self-confidence just as he had his own. He organized the Infantile Paralysis Foundation and the March of Dimes which produced the resources to finance the extraordinary work of Dr. Salk and Dr. Sabine which resulted in the present possibility of eradication of polio in the world. He worked with polio victims throughout his lifetime, using Warm Springs as a place where he helped others recover just as he hoped someday he would walk again. He encouraged the concept of “independent living” for the disabled – and I have met countless members of the disabled community who regard FDR as an icon of courage and hope.
The Roosevelt Institute annually awards the Franklin Delano Roosevelt International Disability Award at the United Nations, honoring countries that have made significant progress in assisting the disabled in receiving the full rights of opportunity and citizenship. This year we hope to have President Obama use the occasion of his first visit to the United Nations to sign on behalf of the United States the Covenant for the Rights of the Disabled adopted by the General Assembly in 2005 as part of the FDR Award ceremony. The Four Freedoms Park, of course, looks out on the United Nations of which Franklin Roosevelt is remembered as the Founder. It is another link that will have extraordinary meaning for the Four Freedoms Park.
Somehow we must find a way to convey this incredible story to those who visit Southpoint. Building on our initial meeting, we will work with representatives of Roosevelt Island to achieve that objective. We are grateful to Virginia Granato and Dr. Resnick for their effective presentation. Our task is to work together to find a way to accomplish our mutual purpose, honoring a great President and remembering the qualities of character that enabled him to lead our country so well.
Ambassador William J. vanden Heuvel
Chairman, Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park, LLC
Founder and Chair Emeritus, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute
A member of the RIDA Board replied:
That all sounds well and good, however, we would be interested in knowing specifically how you intend to "recognize FDR as a disabled person?" Are you intending to support and fund a sculpture of FDR either sitting in a wheelchair or standing with the aid of his crutches and placed in the Four Freedoms Park? Or are you just trying to placate the disabled community with a small plaque "somewhere in the park?" If that is your intention then it's very clear to all of us that the Kahn Design is more important to all of you than actually recognizing FDR's disability. And that's a real shame and unacceptable!
Could FERI's sudden expression of a desire to work with RIDA have anything to do with FERI needing the approval of RIOC's Board of Directors in order to move forward with their Kahn Memorial and that the resident RIOC board members may be favorable disposed towards their RIDA neighbors quest to have a FDR Memorial on Roosevelt Island that recognizes FDR's disability and honors all those who overcome great challenges?
Children Standing Next To FDR Wheelchair Statue in Washington DC Image From Carol
On June 3, 2009 the Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) adopted the following resolution supporting a plan for the proposed Four Freedoms Park at Roosevelt Island's Southpoint Park that includes a depiction of FDR as a disabled person utilizing a wheelchair or crutches. The Resolution states:
RESOLUTION REGARDING MEMORIAL DEPICTION OF PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT IN THE PLANS FOR THE FOUR FREEDOMS MEMORIAL PARK
WHEREAS from its initial planning stages, Roosevelt Island was conceived as a place in New York City that could be accessible and comfortable to disabled residents; and
WHEREAS we live in the America of President Barack Obama and Supreme Court Nominee Sonia Sotomayor - the America where now more than ever before we are witness to an unprecedented abundance of role models from previously underrepresented segments of society, who have overcome racial, ethnic, and class struggles to rise to the highest levels of leadership; and
WHEREAS before them was President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who despite being disabled by Polio and confined to a wheelchair, was elected President of the United States, and is now remembered as one of the most effective and courageous men to have led this country; and
WHEREAS just as school aged children have been awakened to aspire to higher achievements, once thought to be beyond their grasp, a memorial depicting President Roosevelt, as he truly lived, in a wheelchair or on crutches, would have the same effect on the disabled community to see that one of our most beloved presidents was able to overcome his disability and be elected to the highest office in the country; and
WHEREAS the continued resident population of Roosevelt Island, uniquely composed in significant part of many disabled persons, residing both independently in apartments or within the two chronic care hospitals located on the island, renders a true portrayal of President Roosevelt more meaningful and poignant on Roosevelt Island than any in any other location; and
THEREFORE, NOW BE IT RESOLVED that the Roosevelt Island Residents Association supports a plan for the Four Freedoms Park that includes a celebration of President Roosevelt as a disabled person by depicting him in a wheelchair or on crutches.
-Adopted by the Common Council of the Roosevelt Island Residents Association 6/3/09
RIRA now joins with the Roosevelt Island Disabled Association (RIDA) and the Executive Director of the Coler Goldwater Hospital in recognizing the local and national importance of including a depiction of President Roosevelt as a disabled person, first raised by Roosevelt Island's Doctor Jack Resnick, and calls for the Franklin & Eleanor Roosevelt Institute (FERI) to include such a depiction in their proposed Four Freedoms Park.
... The FDR Memorial on this Island should focus on the President’s strength in conquering his disability. Many possibilities come to mind. For instance, he should not be memorialized with a bust. We should see a greater-than-life-sized statue of him sitting in a wheelchair – and he should face north toward Goldwater and Coler Hospitals....
RIDA previously issued this statement calling for the recognition of FDR as a disabled person:
On behalf of the Roosevelt Island Disabled Association and it's many disabled members we want to voice our opposition to a glaring deficit in the current proposal for the FDR Memorial to be built at the Southern tip of Roosevelt Island.
President Roosevelt was disabled by Polio before he was elected President of the United States and used a wheelchair almost exclusively. A statue of President Roosevelt sitting in a wheelchair or standing with the help of his crutches would be most appropriate here on an Island where many disabled people reside, both in apartments and in the two chronic care hospitals. In the same manner that our first black president, Barack Obama, has inspired so many school- aged black children to aspire to higher achievements, once thought to be impossible, would have the same effect on the disabled community when viewing a statue of one of our most beloved presidents and realizing that he, too, was disabled and was able to overcome his disability and be elected to the highest office in the country. What an inspiration that would be for the multitude of disabled visitors, especially our wheelchair bound war veterans returning from Iraq, to visualize that despite their disability anything is possible. The memorial, as shown in the artist's sketches. does not portray FDR as disabled and we feel that this is an injustice to us all. It is said that “A picture is worth a thousand words.” In this instance, a statue of FDR depicted as our first disabled President would speak volumes to the millions of visitors, disabled and non-disabled who will be visiting The FDR Memorial for generations to come.
Roosevelt Island Disabled Association Board of Directors and it's members
In order to incorporate The Four Freedoms aspect to a FDR Memorial depicting his use of a wheelchair or crutches, each of the four sides of such a statue's base could be engraved with one the Four Freedoms.
The decision as to what a FDR Memorial on Roosevelt Island will ultimately be is in the hands of the Roosevelt Island Board of Directors, of which 7 of the 9 are residents of Roosevelt Island. As stated in the February 6, 2009 Conditional Designation Letter (Page 1) for the proposed FERI supported FDR Memorial:
... RIOC retains all rights at any time to revoke this Agreement and the FDR Project will be subject to approval by RIOC's Board of Directors...
A vote of the RIOC Board may be scheduled for the June 25 meeting at which time the RIOC Board can reject FERI's proposal unless it includes a depiction of FDR as called for in the RIRA Resolution and RIDA letter. Let's hope that the Roosevelt Island resident RIOC Board members support their neighbors in RIRA, RIDA and all those around the nation who have overcome great personal hardships and challenges, including our returning disabled war veterans, by supporting a FDR Roosevelt Island Memorial that includes a depiction of his use of a wheelchair or crutches.
Please, somebody try and tell me that this picture of the little girl on crutches walking next to the Washington DC FDR Wheelchair Statue is not a more appropriate and inspirational model for Roosevelt Island's Four Freedoms Park
The May 27 FDR Memorial Town Hall Meeting at which the Franklin & Eleanor Roosevelt Institute (FERI) presented an update of the proposed Louis Kahn designed FDR Memorial and a SEQR Environmental briefing aroused heated passions from many Roosevelt Island residents who believe that the proposed Memorial ignores the disabled community both here on Roosevelt Island and across the nation. Many think, myself included, that this proposed Memorial is not so much honoring FDR as it is the architect of the project, Louis Kahn.
For those that want to view the meeting and decide for yourself, RIOC has posted a webcast of the proceedings here. The first 50 minutes of the proceedings are devoted to FERI's presentation. Starting at the 51 minute mark questions and statements from the community were presented. I would recommend paying particular attention to the first two statements by Roosevelt Island Disabled Association (RIDA) President Virginia Granato and Doctor Jack Resnick.
The 5/30/ Main Street WIRE (PDF File) has an excellent summary of the Town Hall Meeting and some portions are excerpted below:
... On Wednesday night, the most prominent objection came from a group of disabled residents, who protested the lack of any plan for a full-length portrayal of FDR as a disabled person who nonetheless excelled in life in general, and as a wartime president in particular. They carried signs, but listened quietly as a representative from the construction company, another from the architectural firm, and officials of the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute (FERI) made what amounted to a repeat of several previous presentations – six in the last 12 months, by FERI’s count. The report on an environmental impact assessment, the intended purpose of the meeting, was pro forma.... ... In the Q&A period that followed the formal presentation, the president of the Roosevelt Island Disabled Association, Virginia Granato, calmly presented her group’s objection: “We feel that being disabled was part of who FDR was, as a human being, and he made wonderful contributions in spite of his disability, and not depicting this is a disservice to disabled and non-disabled alike. It’s part of this island. This island has a history of disabled people. We’ve got two long-term care hospitals here. We feel slighted in not showing that he was a disabled person, and we would like to right this wrong.” Dr. Jack Resnick, physician to many of the community’s disabled or homebound people, spoke moments after Granato, and set forth the basic question in a few sentences. “It really is unconscionable that you could build a memorial to FDR, on Roosevelt Island, that doesn’t recognize why the island is named Roosevelt Island,” Resnick said.... ... Resident after resident then hammered away at the “insult” – lamenting the failure to acknowledge Roosevelt’s disability with a view of him in a wheelchair. Sally Minard, president and CEO of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park, responded to most of these comments by pointing out that showing Roosevelt as a disabled person “is not the purpose of this park.” She emphasized repeatedly that the park’s specific purpose is to celebrate Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms. “There are other ways and other places in the park where it can be very clear that Roosevelt was crippled and never could stand or walk alone. We are not ignoring or blind to the significance of his situation.... ...Historical Society President Judith Berdy joined those calling for some representation of the physical difficulties FDR overcame. “When I was a student, in 1966, I came here, to Goldwater. Goldwater had open wards of young people, some of whom are in this room, living in iron lungs. Our history of this island has always shunted off the disabled, the prison, the almshouse, the poor. It’s been put away, put on the side. It’s true. It’s time that we reflect more on FDR and his disability.” Berdy observed that in the ’20s and ’30s, concealing a disability was common, suggesting that times have changed. “I feel it is time for reconsidering some of the aspects of this memorial to make it more accessible, and perhaps changing some of the depictions of FDR. Showcase his disability. That will show this island’s history of caring for people – taking those no one cared about and taking care of them and making them at home here.” She said the park should celebrate the whole man, including his disabilities and abilities.“ “There are other ways and other places in the park where it can be very clear that Roosevelt was a man who was crippled and never could stand or walk alone,” Minard responded. “No one is trying to avoid talking about it or writing about it.”
But nothing Minard or others said satisfied those speaking for the disabled community, and subsequent speakers suggested the FERI representatives were deliberately “not hearing” the disabled point of view. The unspoken theme appeared to be that FERI intends to stick closely to the Louis Kahn design, which has led critics to suggest the park is more a monument to Kahn’s architecture than to Roosevelt or the Four Freedoms....
Following the meeting, I sent this email message to Ms. Minard, the CEO of FERI:
Thank you for participating in last night's Public Hearing on the proposed Kahn/FDR Memorial.
As we discussed, here is the link from the National Organization on Disability which includes a resolution of FERI's Board of Directors stating the following:
Resolution of the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute Board of Directors at its meeting in Warm Springs, GA, on Tuesday, April 11, 1995
Franklin Delano Roosevelt's indomitability, even in the face of his disability, is an important part of his legacy, and the fact of his disability should be shown in a significant way at the Washington memorial to FDR. Recognizing that time may be needed to do this in an effective way, necessary additions or modifications should be pursued as quickly as possible, but the opening of the memorial should not be delayed.
There are also statements from President's Clinton, Bush (41), Carter and Ford in support of depicting FDR as a person with a disability for the DC Memorial as well as a statement from members of the Roosevelt family saying the same thing.
I understand that many of you have worked very long and hard to get the Kahn designed FDR Memorial build at Southpoint Park. I sincerely ask you to reconsider this design and replace it with one recognizing FDR as a person with a disability who overcame tremendous hardships and challenges to become a great President with a Wheelchair Memorial at the southern tip of the Island instead of the bust and room. It would be a wonderful inspiration for people on Roosevelt Island and all over the world to see such a Memorial demonstrating that nothing is impossible with sufficient will. In keeping with the Four Freedoms aspect of the Park, the base of the Wheelchair could have the 4 Freedoms inscribed on each side.
Please don't dismiss this idea. Bring it to your Board and and donors. See what they say. Better yet - have them come to Roosevelt Island and speak to Doctor Resnick, Virginia Granato and others so that the FERI Board can see first hand how vital this is to Roosevelt Island and America.
On another matter, as we also discussed last night, can you please provide me with the public record of your donor list for the FDR Four Freedoms Park.
Thank you.
Ms. Minard replied:
I appreciate your thoughtful comments on how President Roosevelt should be portrayed. The sincerity and sensitivity of many Roosevelt Island residents on the subject is understood. As we said, there are ways and places to accomplish their objective within Southpoint Park. We are more than willing to work with the community to address the issue. Regarding the names of contributors to the Four Freedoms Park, the information is not public. All donors will be recognized at the park when it is completed. I’m sure we will see you soon.
There are Roosevelt Island residents who have been and are still in favor of FERI's proposed FDR Memorial designed by Louis Kahn. I have been having a continuing dialogue with one of them, Marc Diamond (MD). Here is a recent series of exchanges we have had on topic.
MD:
Did you cull together all the information in this post? The articles and stuff?
I think you and I agree on something about FDR park - that the sculpture should show FDR's disability.
Me:
Thanks for your thoughts.
Yes, I did pull together all the information.
The question is how do you include a sculpture that shows FDR's disability within the Kahn design context. To date, FERI will not allow any changes to the design.
I, of course, would prefer to substitute the proposed 3 sided enclosed memorial room and bust with a wheelchair statue and perhaps Four Freedoms at the base.
Do you have any thoughts on how to include recognition of FDR's disability in Memorial?
MD :
Nice job on collecting all those clips.
Couldn't the bust of FDR be replaced by a sculpture with FDR in a wheelchair or on crutches? FERI is making other changes to allow for lighting and access for the disabled, like a new ramp in the "Room." And this change would have less affect on the architecture, IMHO.
Will you be there tomorrow night?
Me:
I'll be there,
Can't you agree to get rid of the "Room" and just have wheelchair statue at southern site? Is the "room" a "must have"
MD:
I think if you get rid of the "room," there's no Kahn design. You gotta start over. It's a "must have" in that sense.
I don't think starting over is an option for RIOC or FERI anymore.
Me:
You write that without the "room' there is "No Kahn design". In my view, that is the problem. For some, keeping the 1970 Kahn design is more important than creating the most appropriate 21st century Memorial to President Roosevelt. A wheelchair statue of FDR at the southern tip of Southpoint does not need to be enclosed in a room.
Is it more important to adhere to the Kahn design or recognize and honor those, like FDR, who have overcome great disabilities like polio or any other challenge and hardship? That is not just a Roosevelt Island issue but an American one as well.
MD:
When I wrote that, I was being practical. I'm hoping there might still be time to change the sculpture, but I don't think RIOC or FERI is interested in any park design but what they started with.
I'm not disagreeing that there may be a better design for the park/memorial or that there could be substantive changes to the Kahn design that would be better. No one knows whether Kahn's design would win if it were one entry in a new international design competition. But it seems to be all about the money for the last year or two. And even that looks like it's in FERI's favor now. Personally, I believe I will really enjoy the Room, whether Kahn designed it or not. But yes, I will get a kick out of knowing it was designed by Kahn. If I could change something about the design, it would be to do away with the stone on all the sloping surfaces and replace it with grass or some other groundcover.
But that cat's out of the barn, or that horse has sailed, or that's soda under the bridge, or the fat lady has eaten, or, well, you know.
Image of FDR Memorial Wheelchair in Washington DC from Ability Unleashed
RIOC President Steve Shane reports that the Frankin & Eleanor Roosevelt Institute (FERI) will be giving a public presentation regarding their proposed Southpoint Park Roosevelt Island memorial to the architect Louis Kahn, regularly mischaracterized as a memorial to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, on Wednesday May 27, 7PM at the Good Shepherd Community Center.
We have just posted on our website under the Community Information tab the FDR Four Freedoms Park SEQR EAF & Environmental Assessment with its exhibits. Please be advised that it has not been reviewed or acted upon, but is for information and question, to make sure that the "hard look" required bySEQRA has been accorded by RIOC's Board, including such issues and questions as the community may have. Please feel free to copy and disseminate further.
As you know, FERI is going to be making a presentation of the whole project, again, including all that is contained in the EAF, on Wednesday evening at the Good Shepherd, 7 PM.
Roosevelt Island Doctor Jack Resnick will also be making a presentation at the meeting in support of the Roosevelt Island Disabled Association's (RIDA) idea to truly honor President Roosevelt as a man and President with a disability who overcame tremendous challenges to become a great leader. The RIDA Board Of Directors issued the following statement explaining why it is so important to publicly recognize that FDR was disabled with Polio and used a wheelchair:
On behalf of the Roosevelt Island Disabled Association and it's many disabled members we want to voice our opposition to a glaring deficit in the current proposal for the FDR Memorial to be built at the Southern tip of Roosevelt Island.
President Roosevelt was disabled by Polio before he was elected President of the United States and used a wheelchair almost exclusively. A statue of President Roosevelt sitting in a wheelchair or standing with the help of his crutches would be most appropriate here on an Island where many disabled people reside, both in apartments and in the two chronic care hospitals. In the same manner that our first black president, Barack Obama, has inspired so many school- aged black children to aspire to higher achievements, once thought to be impossible, such a memorial would have the same effect on the disabled community when viewing a statue of one of our most beloved presidents and realizing that he, too, was disabled and was able to overcome his disability and be elected to the highest office in the country. What an inspiration that would be for the multitude of disabled visitors, especially our wheelchair bound war veterans returning from Iraq, to visualize that despite their disability anything is possible. The memorial, as shown in the artist's sketches. does not portray FDR as disabled and we feel that this is an injustice to us all. It is said that “A picture is worth a thousand words.” In this instance, a statue of FDR depicted as our first disabled President would speak volumes to the millions of visitors, disabled and non-disabled who will be visiting The FDR Memorial for generations to come.
Roosevelt Island Disabled Association Board of Directors and it's members
... The FDR Memorial on this Island should focus on the President’s strength in conquering his disability. Many possibilities come to mind. For instance, he should not be memorialized with a bust. We should see a greater-than-life-sized statue of him sitting in a wheelchair – and he should face north toward Goldwater and Coler Hospital...
The Executive Director of Roosevelt Island's Coler Goldwater Hospital has lent his support to achieving a Roosevelt Island FDR Memorial:
... particularly one acknowledging the tremendous goals he achieved in spite of his disability - a major factor in a large part of the President's life.
The decision as to what a FDR Memorial on Roosevelt Island will ultimately be is in the hands of the Roosevelt Island Board of Directors, of which 7 of the 9 are residents of Roosevelt Island. As stated in the February 6, 2009 Conditional Designation Letter for the proposed FERI supported FDR Memorial below:
... RIOC retains all rights at any time to revoke this Agreement and the FDR Project will be subject to approval by RIOC's Board of Directors...
A vote of the RIOC Board may be scheduled for the June 25 meeting.
Roosevelt Island is a mixed income, racially diverse waterfront community situated in the East River of New York City between Manhattan and Queens and is jurisdictionally part of Manhattan. The Roosevelt Island Tramway, which connects Roosevelt Island to the rest of Manhattan, has become the iconic symbol of Roosevelt Island to its residents.
The Purpose of this Blog is to provide accurate and timely information about Roosevelt Island as well as a forum for residents to express opinions and engage in a dialogue to improve our community.
