RIOC’s Efforts To Maintain And Improve Roosevelt Island
Founded in 1984, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation is a public benefit corporation in New York. It is dedicated to designing, planning, maintaining, developing, and operating Roosevelt Island.
The island is located in the East River, part of the NYC borough of Manhattan. It offers breathtaking views of Queens and Manhattan skylines, plus historic landmarks like the Smallpox Hospital Ruins and Blackwell House. Shelton Haynes, the corporation’s president and CEO, calls it their small utopia in the heart of New York City.
RIOC uses environmentally friendly and innovative solutions to enhance the island’s residential community. It manages Roosevelt’s parks, roads, public transportation, and a sports facility. It also runs the island’s Public Safety Department, which maintains a secure environment for business owners, visitors, employees, and residents.
In July 20201, Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation partnered with the Roosevelt Disabled Association and announced they would unveil the FDR Hope Memorial. They did this to celebrate the Americans with Disabilities Act’s 31st anniversary.
The memorial is a testimonial to the former United States president and Franklin D. Roosevelt, a disability advocate. It serves as a tribute to inclusion and diversity. The monument is located in Southpoint Park and features two bronze figures. One is of Franklin D. Roosevelt in a wheelchair reaching out to a small girl also disabled by polio.
These figures are set on an engraved granite plaza shaped like the Oval Office. Around them are inscribed pavers and inclusive benches, showing how society has progressed in treating disabled people.
Shelton Haynes said the island’s name reminds them of their legacy to represent diversity and inclusion. He also expressed his pride in being among the people who undertook the project commissioned in 2010.
The project brings Jim Bates’ vision to life, the former RIDA president. Meredith Bergmann, an artist, worked alongside Marc Diamond and other employees to design the fully accessible area around the monument. This way, people can sit around and learn about history while appreciating diversity.
The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation also renovated and opened the Manhattan Aerial Tramway Station in 2022. This will make travel easier, safer, and more comfortable.
The renovations cost $7 million and included necessary operational, safety, and aesthetic repairs and upgrades. These include an expanded platform, glass elevators, and an improved station plaza.
About Shelton Haynes
Haynes joined RIOC in April 2016 and served as the Operations Vice President. He was promoted to Chief Operating Officer and later became the acting CEO and president in 2020. He, however, got the positions permanently in March 2021.