Lighthouse Park on Roosevelt Island in New York City is one of the most unique and beautiful parks in the city. The park is home to a variety of plant life, including several species of trees. With a new art installation and its namesake feature under construction, this spring, it’s very much a work in progress.
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
At Work in Lighthouse Park
The park also features a stunning view of the Manhattan skyline, making it a perfect spot for a romantic picnic or a leisurely stroll.
Visitors to the park can also take a short walk to the nearby Roosevelt Island Lighthouse, which offers stunning views of the East and Harlem Rivers and the New York City skyline. But much of that will wait until the work is completed.
Next Door Neighbor The Girl Puzzle
In December, Amanda Matthews’s The Girl Puzzle, a tribute to Nellie Bly opened to widespread praise. But the incomplete landscaping around it gives it an unfinished look.
The best time to plant grass seeds in the northeastern United States is from late spring to early summer when the weather is warm and the days are long. The ideal time for planting is in May or June. RIOC has not announced a plan or plans for sprucing things up with fresh grass..
Moving on from Lighthouse Park
Although both projects are behind schedule, one or both may make it for summer, opening the north end up where the seawall dips into the choppy waters of Hell Gate. But traveling south, the picture is not as promising. Long neglected problems are… well, still neglected.
But then, you wouldn’t know for sure you were on Roosevelt Island until you saw bicycles whizzing past Public Safety’s laughable and never enforced orders to get off and walk.
After countless complaints about safety for pedestrians, Public Safety posted these ridiculous signs in 2018. But it was really just a gesture meant to shut people up. The sidewalks narrow, making walking perilous with unyielding bikes racing through.
Further on down, the deterioration of several installations along the East Promenade show visible signs of neglect. This is a potentially knockout area with stunning perspectives. Many visitors walk this way to Lighthouse Park.
But the Worst Was Yet to Come
The satirical sculpture, The Marriage of Money and Real Estate, by Tom Otterness is a decades old artwork, recognized nationally, but not locally. At least not when you consider the graffiti the state’s ignored for at least five years.
Tom Otterness’s sculpture The Marriage of Money and Real Estate is a whimsical and satirical take on the relationship between money and real estate. The sculpture, located in the East River along the east seawall of Roosevelt Island, features two large bronze figures, one representing money and the other real estate, who are joined together in matrimony.
The sculpture is a humorous way of commenting on the close relationship between money and real estate, and how they often work together to drive economic activity.
While RIOC’s been noticeably rudderless recently, there’s hope that at least the most significant issues will be pulled together in time for summer. Some, which have waited for years, are likely to wait for a few more.
More from the Roosevelt Island Daily News
- Long Island City Rent Overcharge Lawsuit Seeks $50 Million Against DeveloperA Long Island City rent overcharge lawsuit seeks about $50 million from Rockrose Development, raising questions about billing practices, tenant protections, and legal oversight in NYC’s fast-changing rental market.
- Astoria E-Scooter Rider Dies After Northern Boulevard Crash in Long Island CityA 22-year-old Astoria e-scooter rider died after a Northern Boulevard crash in Long Island City. Details remain under investigation, highlighting micromobility risks on busy city streets.
- Hate Crime Charges Filed After Vandalism at Fresh Meadows Kosher Bagel ShopHate crime charges have been filed after vandalism at a kosher bagel shop in Fresh Meadows, with prosecutors alleging bias-motivated acts. Hearings are set in New York’s legal process.
- Midtown Subway Shooting Leaves 26-Year-Old Dead; Queens Incidents SeparateA shooting inside a Manhattan subway station left a 26-year-old dead. Police investigate the Midtown incident and separate shootings in Queens as commuters seek safety.
- College Point Community Responds After Senior Dog Taken From Front LawnA College Point senior dog was taken from her front lawn, sparking a neighborhood response and NYPD investigation. Learn how the community is working together after a senior dog was taken from front lawn.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Ten Years, or Another Temporary Fix?
Roosevelt Island was built through public investment, then expected to support itself through development. The ten-year lease extension gives RIOC a rare chance to replace short-term deals with a financial system designed to outlast the people approving them.
5 COMMENTS