Update: Status of Former "Castle" Playground Site

The following response was received in regard to my recent inquiry about the former Roosevelt Island playground:

To: RooseveltIsland360@gmail.com
Date: Wed, Jul 30, 2008 at 11:17 AM
Subject: Former "Castle" Playground

Eric,

For the past 8 months or so RIOC was working with Island Kids and KaBoom on developing a new playground for the site. KaBoom is anational non-profit organization whose mission is to identify potential playground sites and marry localities with corporate sponsors for the construction of playgrounds. The Blackwell Playground was selected as asite.

The site was prepped for a new playground by RIOC maintenance and grounds staff, and the installation for a new playground was scheduled for early June. However, at the eleventh hour the corporate sponsor backed out. We do not know who the sponsor was or their reason for backing out. KaBoom has made attempts to identify a new corporate sponsor, but RIOC has decided to proceed with the installation of a new playground without the assistance of any third party sponsorship.

A retaining wall was recently installed, and we hope to start work on a new playground by early Fall 2008.

Fernando Martinez
Vice President for Operations
Roosevelt Island Operating Corp.

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Prior to the old "Castle" playground a wooden playground configuration sat at the same site:

Island Kids Film Miley Cyrus Parody

The girls over at Island Kids must have been standing outside Rockefeller Center too long this morning watching Miley Cyrus such that upon their return to Roosevelt Island they filmed the above spoof. Cute.

A Flea Market, a Book & Sock Sale, and a Celebration of Community Activism and Representation (December 1-2, 2007)

The following are three posters advertising events taking place this weekend December 1st and 2nd on Roosevelt Island. On Saturday afternoon Island Kids is hosting its First Flea Market fundraising event from 12pm to 5pm. At 5pm the Roosevelt Island Residents Association will be celebrating 30 years of community service at RIVAA.





On Sunday December 2nd the Roosevelt Island Jewish Center is hosting it annual sock and book sale from 10am to 4pm.

In The Paper - The Main Street Wire - 2007 Nov 3 - Preview

Per an email from Dick Lutz, the Editor of The Main Street WIRE, the issue due out this Saturday will include :

> a lead story on Rivercross's plan to privatize without waiting for an extension of the building's ground lease

> a story on the unified political endorsement of the Louis Kahn design for an FDR Memorial at Southpoint Park

> stories on Island parking enforcement, the upcoming election for RIOC Board nominations, a new children's book by Island authors, help from Island Kids for parents trying to figure out the private school question, and a story on Blair Madison's efforts to break into show business through American Idol.