top of page
Writer's pictureAditi Lad

Rains and Roosevelt Island

Updated: May 23, 2020

Hello, people!

All the appreciation I received for my first blog motivated me to write yet another one.

This time, it’s about one of the famous islands of New York City, the Roosevelt Island.

Roosevelt Island (formerly known as Welfare Island) was named after Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) in 1971.  The island lies the east of Manhattan and toward the west of Queens that is connected with cable car.

PSX_20160728_214002.jpg
PSX_20160809_160843

The island is around 2 miles in length. So to go around the entire island you have two choices, 1. Walking, which could be tiring and 2. Taking the Red Bus which is worked by the Rosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) which is free for travelers.

We picked the second choice and waited for the transport at its stop. In the interim, I strolled around to tap the photos of the cable car station on the island

PSX_20160731_002754
PSX_20160731_002501
PSX_20160731_002953

Finally, Northbound transport arrived which was to drop us as the Octagon Apartments.

The Octagon was before a hospital yet was of late changed into housing.

imageedit_11_5082427743
IMG_8098-01
imageedit_43_2091587524

Minutes from the Octagon is the Light House Park. This park is on the north end of the island.

imageedit_88_8263546776
imageedit_92_3516322087

As we took a tour through the park from the east side of the island, we could feel the cool wind of air.

imageedit_80_3156067065
imageedit_78_4926136314
imageedit_76_4627086803

Moving ahead we reached a point where we could see the lighthouse and East River and a distant perspective of the Randall’s Island Park. The park was amazingly wide. Towards the east was the borough of Queens and the Manhattan skyline toward the west.

imageedit_68_8435273908
imageedit_74_4052999548
imageedit_70_2228593230

While we played and clicked pictures on the garden and walked towards the lighthouse, the climate was getting cooler and sky overcast.

imageedit_58_3228490367
imageedit_62_4060521595
imageedit_56_5339202415
imageedit_64_2329165980

Next, we began strolling back to the transport stop, this time from the west side of the island. The west of the island gives an amazing view of Manhattan.

imageedit_52_4875394280
imageedit_90_6376531790
imageedit_47_5907749857
imageedit_45_9115787349

Next, we took the Southbound Red Bus that keeps running from Octagon toward the Southpoint Park and got down at our destination stop. We wandered for a couple of minutes before reaching the park beneath the radiant Queensboro bridge that connects Manhattan to Queens.

imageedit_41_5919312402

This photo was taken on the Queens’ side of the island. We walked across the island and sat down for some time to appreciate the engineering excellence of Manhattan and also saw the Queensboro Bridge from the Manhattan side.

imageedit_35_9731471408
imageedit_37_8049582339

The Southpoint park situated on the southern end of the island gives an astonishing view of Manhattan. This park fills the need of an incredible outing spot. By the time we reached the park, it started raining softly.

imageedit_31_6591080900
imageedit_33_7010219335

Past the Southpoint Park and to the compelling southern end is the Four Freedoms Park. Just before the Freedom’s Park is a Small Pox Hospital. This healing center was pronounced as one of the “spooky spots” on Roosevelt Island. It effectively treated smallpox patients till 1950s and is as of now set apart as one of the landmarks of New York City.

imageedit_25_8935274899
imageedit_27_9575707536
imageedit_60_5316182874

And finally, we achieved the last spot of our trip, The Four Freedom’s Park. This is the most current fascination on the island.

imageedit_29_5236768294

We walked along the west side of the park taking a look at FDR Drive alongside the East River.

imageedit_23_7438750192

Enjoying the view, we, at last, reached the enormous grass of the park.

imageedit_1_6024434223

This immense yard had pathways on both the sides to get to the end of the park.

imageedit_86_3554152246
imageedit_21_5502458345

And those pathways gave an elevated view of Manhattan.

imageedit_19_4813174840

Walking along the pathway, we approached the end of the park, where a statue of Franklin D. Roosevelt is set up by Louis Kahn. The words of the Four Freedom Speech are engraved on the other side of the statue.

imageedit_9_9723456081
imageedit_7_7279581494

This park gives a breathtaking view of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens.

PSX_20160809_210839.jpg

From the other end of the park.

imageedit_15_7321585237

And some more pictures while walking back to the tram station

imageedit_13_3391465574
PSX_20160731_003227

This place, I would say is one of the best places I visited in New York City.

How to get there: Making a trip to this island is basically straightforward. You should simply take the Jamaica-bound F subway and get down at Roosevelt Island stop. Or you could get down at Lexington Ave/63rd St stop, stroll around 0.2 miles to the Manhattan Tram Station at E59th St and 2nd Ave and take the Roosevelt Island Tram to the island. In order to ride the tram, you just need the MTA Metro Card. Also, for individuals going from New Jersey, you have to take PATH to the 33rd St and after that take the F subway from 34th St-Herald Square station.

Best time to visit: Spring, Summer, and Fall

I thoroughly enjoyed my day at the island. For people who enjoy waterfronts and parks and also photography, this place is a must visit with the cable car ride being the cherry on the cake.

Leave a comment to let me know how you feel about this blog. Suggestions and Criticisms are welcomed.

7 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Ladakh

Comments


bottom of page