Four Freedoms State Park is on the cusp of change, upgrading accessibility as reopening for activities is on the horizon. As I worked on the story, I decided to share a before image, my favorite view from yesterday.

By David Stone

Roosevelt Island Daily News

A year ago, before the coronavirus pandemic grounded us, I wrote about the park, noting its quietest season.

But 2021 owns a vastly different February, and rather than quiet, it’s a serenity magnet, drawing a record number of visitors in January.

And now, another story of growth and the embrace of the ideals on which the park was founded is about to unfold. We’ll cover that story, but here’s a look at FDR Four Freedoms State Park, this winter, on the cusp of change.

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Before the Door Closed

In one meeting, RIOC showed that procedure could be used to bless a contested appointment, and then used again to keep a resident-safety resolution from reaching the floor.

Eleanor Rivers May 29, 2026

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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