Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President BJ Jones reports on upcoming plans to improve Blackwell Park and Blackwell House.
During an interview today, Mr Jones said:
We’ve heard from the community about how important this area is for families and have also heard that people feel like there’s opportunities for improvement here. We know that the flooring in the playground areas is due for replacement. And so while we’re at it we want to think more about the needs of the community here and what else we might be able to do to serve families better.
So whether it’s rethinking the playground equipment that’s here, I’ve heard from folks that equipment for toddlers would be a great addition to the area could be one thing to explore. Thinking about the placement of equipment. Doing something about the sand pit in the corner. Thinking about accessibility in the park as well and having a more accessible pathway from Main Street down to the waterfront while taking care of the general landscape and the walkways, addressing trip hazards, just general improvements to to make it function better….
… On the list of overdue repairs that we need to address is the roof of Blackwell House and some of the the flooring. We are definitely getting a move on on that. We’ve completed the assessment. We’ll have to go through permitting and procurement fun, but are moving forward on addressing the needs here at the house.
And we’re also thinking too about how we can more fully utilize Blackwell House. So we certainly invite the community now and we’ll be more actively engaging the community soon on how we might make use of the house more fully in the near future. Maybe some tables and chairs {on the porch. Maybe some rocking chairs. We’re really open to ideas on that front.
UPDATE 9/3 – According to RIOC:
Please be advised that the Blackwell Park walkway paving and curb installation project will kick off on Tuesday, September 8. The project is expected to take approximately two weeks, weather permitting.
The project will include:
• Demolition and concrete paving of the lower flood-prone area.
• Installation of new curbs to help retain rainwater and minimize erosion.
• Concrete filling of the existing sandpit.Barricades will be placed around the work zone for safety. We will also place A-frame signs to help direct the public around the work area during construction.
Blackwell house as nursery school?
Maybe allowing non profits to have their monthly board meetings there
RIOC should not DIY any of this. Use professionals: landscape architects and urban planners. They know how communities work, and the complex interplay of function and play. Locally the waterside promenade at Hunters Point is inspiring and can serve as a model.
Everyone would love struck enforcement of no smoking in public parks/spaces and to enforce noise complaints. A guy literally rolls a Bluetooth speaker and blast music every morning by the park. I call PSD and they do nothing. They are scared of confrontation.
When will the interminably delayed project to repair Eleanor’s Pier be accomplished? I can remember when food from Granny Annie’s (under a previous name) was available and tables and chairs provided.
Yes, the repair and use of Eleanor’s Pier is my concern too. Hasn’r it been a couple YEARS that it’s been closed off? Why has this charming public space been unavailable for so long?
Blackwell Park once had a toddler section. But when Related/Hudson won the Southtown contract, it was demolished. The community was told it would be replaced but the playground that was installed failed to live up to that promise. It was great to hear that BJ recognizes the need to create a safe, appropriate area for our community’s toddlers. It’s long overdue!
For all of the recent surveys and walk and talks and “idea submissions” there has been little progress or plans made public on decrepit public spaces and vacant businesses. Though they did successfully cut down a bunch of nice landscaping and concrete-over the lawsuit-waiting-to-happen sidewalk by the promenade.
I wish fellow residents would accept tram fast passes are ultimately not worth the advocacy right now and our built environment deserves all the attention we can throw at it.
I would love a monthly post from this site that simply relays a status update on island projects, even something as simple as “no new news”
– Eleanor’s Pier (plus all the other closed piers on the west side)
– Main Street roadway
– RI bridge and roadway
– Motorgate
– Graduate hotel
– Steam plant
– Coler construction
– Etc.