Roosevelt Island Lighthouse Park
Community Workshop
January 8th, 2020/6:00 to 8:00 P.M.
A Roosevelt Island Lighthouse Park Community Workshop was announced by RIOC president Susan Rosenthal, last week. Community involvement increased recently with the state agency.
Rosenthal announced the workshop at a presentation about the Nellie Bly Memorial, The Girl Puzzle by Amanda Matthews. That installation will also find a home on the Island’s north end.
Although there’s been frustration with RIOC’s handling of some recent actions, inclusion for folks who live here brings welcome change.
More importantly, it broadens democracy where a community has no say in the main governing body’s composition or activities. In short, RIOC doesn’t have to do this, but they are. We appreciate it.
About Lighthouse Park and the Roosevelt Island Lighthouse Park Community Workshop
The Roosevelt Island Lighthouse Park Community Workshop brings into focus the restoration and expansion of a popular if somewhat neglected historic space.
The Roosevelt Island Lighthouse was built in 1872. It presides over daunting currents in Hell Gate. When it was still known as Welfare Island, Thomas Edison caught a glimpse in this 1903 video.
RIOC aims to restore the Lighthouse to something closer to its original look. Planned work includes “restoration of the stone tower facade, two windows, removal and replacement of stairs, observation platform, lantern house, and non-original lighting.”
The workshop, set for January 8th in the Chapel of the Good Shepherd, from 6:00 to 8:00, has greater ambitions than just the lighthouse. In focus, RIOC asks the community “…to help create a vision of the new, expanded Lighthouse Park.”
Fresh ideas and creative conversations are welcome. RIOC’s wants to hear from you and hopes you will be there.
Before the Door Closed
The May 14 RIOC board meeting began with public concern over the steam plant and ended with two votes that revealed more than any report could. Some meetings announce themselves by what is said. This one announced itself by what the room permitted to move and what it stopped before it could breathe.
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