Volunteers Ready To Clean Up, Remove Weeds And Beautify Shabby And Deteriorating Roosevelt Island Riverwak Commons Area Poorly Maintained By RIOC Says Southtown Resident - But Waiting 2 Weeks So Far For RIOC Boss To Approve So Work Can Begin

Roosevelt Island resident Josina Baez is sick and tired of the shabby and deteriorating condition of the Riverwalk Commons landscaping maintained by the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) - or more precisely, its lack of proper care and maintenance.

Ms Baez writes:

Over the past few years the People’s (Riverwalk) Commons, because of lack of regular maintenance, has seriously deteriorated. Even the planting of annual flowers  was discontinued. 

New York City parks and numerous NY City local communities have volunteers who are assisting the NY Park’s department in taking care of their gardens. I believe we can do the same on Roosevelt Island. 

2 weeks ago with 2 other residents I met with Matthew Kibby, the chief of Roosevelt Island Grounds Dept. and we walked the Commons. Mr. Kibby having only +/- 10 people to take care of the whole island indicated that he would appreciate our RI residents help, but he had to get permission of his Boss for this to happen.

My request was: Clean up and weed and plant some annuals again. 

I DID NOT ASK FOR ANY FUNDS. 

I'm told this "Boss" sent my request to the RIOC LEGAL Dep't  and there it got stuck: no reply, no answer, no reason given for a YES or NO.

In the meantime the weeds are full grown plants by now and the Commons looks “run-down”. The Commons belongs to all RI residents, a place where residents come together to enjoy the outside, to socialize, to relax, to watch their children play. It also should be a place of beauty.

I spoke to Ms Baez today about her efforts to clean up and beautify the Roosevelt Island Riverwalk Commons.

Here's what she had to say.

 

As we finished our talk, RIOC groundskeepers were spotted cutting hedges around the Riverwalk Commons though according to Ms Baez and others, 

the groundskeepers should be using hand trimmers, not power trimming saw, to cut the hedges.

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New Roosevelt Island Resident Asks For Clean Up Of Graffiti On Walls And Otterness East River Sculpture, Shoreline Rock Garbage & Weeds In Northern Section Of Island

New Roosevelt Island resident Greg Morales shares these pictures and reports:

I just moved to RI about a month ago and was really impressed with the quality of landscape maintenance around my building (Island House) and the buildings to the south. This past weekend I went for a walk on the northern end

and was kind of taken aback by how crumby it looked. I know if this was a City park, I could call 311 or the park manager for the council district but who do I call here? And especially about garbage in the rocks of the shoreline?

Does anyone do cleanup days of the shoreline?

Are there no rules about graffiti removal?

 Inspections to see that weeds

are growing under the promenade benches?

I was particularly upset by the graffiti

on the Tom Otterness sculpture - less upset that it had been graffitied (that happens) but that it wasn't removed immediately and I'm sure others would be too if they knew. Must say the garbage on the rocks was the worst though,

 just kept thinking about all of the plastic in the oceans.

Roosevelt Island Herbicide Spraying For Poison Ivy And Weed Growth At Community Garden & Blackwell Park Scheduled For Friday Morning

You Tube Video of How To Spot Poison Ivy

Received the following Advisory from the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC):

Please be advised on Friday, October 29, 2010 at 5:00 a.m. Save-A-Lawn will be spot treating specific areas around the island for poison ivy and weed growth. The lawn areas to be treated will be the outer perimeters of the Community Garden (near the pathway of the Comfort Station) and isolated areas in Blackwell Park. These areas will have the necessary signs posted that are required by New York State Law.

Although treated sites are safe to frequent twenty minutes after treatment, it is a state requirement to keep the area clear for 24 hours. Please note that pesticides will not be applied anywhere near children play areas or dog runs.

Sincerely,

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp Advisories Group

More on Roosevelt Island pesticide and herbicide spraying here.