Roosevelt Island Good Shepherd Plaza Landscaping And Picnic Table Benches Get A Spruce Up And Improvements From RIOC Following Urging By Local Residents

Beginning earlier this summer, several concerned Roosevelt Island residents reported the deteriorating condition of the landscaping and picnic table benches in the Plaza Area behind the Good Shepherd Church to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC).

Last week, RIOC responded and received thanks from residents.

A Roosevelt Island resident Tipster reported last Friday:

Great news for the Good Shepherd Church Plaza.  The picnic benches look beautiful.

 

 Thanks to all the hard working RIOC team who worked on the picnic benches!!

Another resident reported:

In the church plaza they have refinished the benches and painted the base in silver without spilling any paint. Also putting back the picnic tables which have been sanded stained and varnished. I guess they are discouraging the kind of artwork that was on the tables before.

 Last Friday, I asked RIOC President Shelton Haynes:

Residents have sent photos and Positive RIOC Compliments about the return of picnic tables to Good Shepherd Plaza.

Do you wish to comment on the subject for a story I’m preparing?

Also, will the picnic tables be painted again by local community groups as was done previously?

Mr Haynes replied:

Thank you for the note.

Vicki Feinmel and I had a conversation during National Night Out, where she informed me about an area in Good Shepherd Plaza that needed a landscaping spruce up and then she mentioned the conditions of the tables. I passed the information to Altheria Jackson (AVP of Operations) whose teams Horticulture/Grounds and Facilities addressed the issues. 

We would love to have the community groups paint the tables again in the future.

In the summer of 2021, here's what the Good Shepherd Plaza picnic tables newly painted by Roosevelt Island community groups looked like. 

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Roosevelt Island Inspired Painted Picnic Tables Return To Good Shepherd Plaza With New Artful Look And They Look Terrific - More Roosevelt Island Outdoor Seating Picnic Tables Would Be Great Too

Roosevelt Island residents were concerned last week when they discovered the very popular picnic tables disappeared 

from their spot behind the church in Good Shepherd Plaza only to be relieved to learn the picnic tables were moved temporarily near the Meditation Steps so they could be painted by local organizations during last Saturday's Roosevelt Island Day Celebration.

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The newly painted Roosevelt Island inspired themed picnic tables were returned to Good Shepherd Plaza yesterday and they look terrific.

According to Shops On Main Street:

Last spring, Shops On Main gifted RI’s Good Shepherd Plaza six picnic tables. It's been such a pleasure to see so many islanders use them and we’re delighted to offer SoM’s restaurants and cafes more outdoor seating options. 

This year we're taking it a step further by making the tables fun, creative, and captivating by inviting six island-based organizations to turn them into artful masterpieces with a theme of ISLAND INSPIRED. Among the participating groups are the Main Street Theater & Dance Alliance, The Girl Scouts, Cornell Tech, RI Youth Center, WFF, and Island Kids. 

Each group will be provided art materials to bring these tables to life on Saturday, June 12 on Meditation Lawn. The public is invited to come out and watch. The final creations will be returned to Good Shepherd Plaza and bring ongoing connection and joy to islanders long after Roosevelt Island Day 2021.

Enjoy outdoor eating at the Roosevelt Island Good Shepherd Plaza Picnic Tables with your family, friends and neighbors.

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I'd love to see more picnic tables for outdoor seating, particularly by Blackwell House.

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Very Popular Roosevelt Island Good Shepherd Plaza Picnic Tables Missing, Where Did They Go Ask Worried Residents?

Last August, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) in collaboration with Shops On Main Street Master Leaseholder Hudson Related placed picnic tables in Good Shepherd Plaza behind the Church

which proved to be very popular with residents. At the time, Paul Krikler of Island House wrote to RIOC President Shelton Haynes:

I don’t know who to thank for these. If it’s you all, then Thank You. I already saw a neighbor eating dinner with her daughters there this evening.

I think it’s a wonderful use of the space. I’d love to take my dinner outside once in a while. With my family.

I hope this is permanent...

The Good Shepherd Plaza tables are the perfect spot to crash your neighbor's picnic for some spontaneous entertainment too.

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But residents became concerned this week when the Good Shepherd Plaza picnic tables disappeared asking:

Any idea when the picnic tables located at 543 Main will returned?

pic.twitter.com/HuLHjCPKNQ

— Bhangeri (@bhangeri) June 9, 2021

Yay!

— Bhangeri (@bhangeri) June 9, 2021

It turns out the picnic tables are currently covered on the Rivercross Lawn next to the Mediation Steps 

waiting to be painted by local groups for Roosevelt Island Day. 

According to Shops On Main Street:

Last spring, Shops On Main gifted RI’s Good Shepherd Plaza six picnic tables. It's been such a pleasure to see so many islanders use them and we’re delighted to offer SoM’s restaurants and cafes more outdoor seating options. 

This year we're taking it a step further by making the tables fun, creative, and captivating by inviting six island-based organizations to turn them into artful masterpieces with a theme of ISLAND INSPIRED. Among the participating groups are the Main Street Theater & Dance Alliance, The Girl Scouts, Cornell Tech, RI Youth Center, WFF, and Island Kids. 

Each group will be provided art materials to bring these tables to life on Saturday, June 12 on Meditation Lawn. The public is invited to come out and watch. The final creations will be returned to Good Shepherd Plaza and bring ongoing connection and joy to islanders long after Roosevelt Island Day 2021.

We can all breath a sigh of relief - the Roosevelt Island Good Shepherd Plaza Picnic Tables will return. 

I'd love to see more picnic tables for outdoor seating, particularly by Blackwell House.

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New Outdoor Seating For Roosevelt Island Take Out Food Says RIOC, 6 Picnic Benches Placed At West Side Of Good Shepherd Plaza Yesterday - But They're Gone Today

A reader asked yesterday about picnic benches

spotted behind the Chapel in Good Shepherd Plaza:

I think the picnic tables behind Chapel at Good Shepherd Plaza are additional outdoor seating for Roosevelt Island restaurant/deli take out. @RIOCny https://t.co/HcI2GUuB4A pic.twitter.com/UrERpTFd61

— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland) August 20, 2020

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