Roosevelt Island — Attraction in New York

Roosevelt Island, set against the East River’s swift currents, is a sliver of tranquility, neatly tucked away from Manhattan’s ceaseless vigor. This elongated island is a world unto itself, where the clamor of the city fades into the background, replaced by the hushed whispers of history and the soft rustle of leaves in its ample green spaces.

Once known as Welfare Island, and before that Blackwell's Island, this piece of land has been transformed from a place of institutions to a residential haven. Its small-town charm is juxtaposed with dramatic views of Manhattan’s skyline, making it a photographer’s delight and a contemplator’s sanctuary.

The island is an ensemble of attractions from the ruins of a smallpox hospital to the modern architecture of the Four Freedoms Park. It offers both a reprieve from the city’s intensity and a direct thread to its heart via the iconic Roosevelt Island Tramway. With bike-friendly paths and a sense of community that is hard to come by in the metropolitan rush, Roosevelt Island offers a unique perspective on New York City living—close to the pulse yet at peace, a dynamic blend of past and present, isolation and...

I highly recommend making a trip here, especially in the spring or summer, when the many trees are laden with lush green leaves. This is an ideal little island not too far from Manhattan, and yet the environment is completely removed from that constant rush and motion that defines everyday life in Manhattan. Most of the island is at the park, with only a few shops and apartments, and even those do not detract from the bucolic majesty of this lovely park. I recommend going to the FDR memorial on the south tip of the island if you can. If you are wanting a different view, I recommend riding the tram back and forth. It opened in the seventies and has delighted the citizens of New York ever since. They recently, relatively speaking, updated it, and it is quite lovely. If you are interested in having a picnic in the city, I recommend having it here, on a clear day, sitting atop one of the grassy hills, looking westward at the shining tower of the United Nations building in the distance. Enjoy the soft seabreeze and relax in this little sanctuary, apart from the constant energy...

I wish the staff would do something about the homeless males that solicit money from parkgoers. There are other homeless who sleep there at night but they don't bother anyone.

Crossing the street is iffy because there are no redlights or stop signs for cars. It makes me nervous sometimes, especially since a lot of buses come through the area.

I also wish there were more tables where you can sit and eat, or for me personally write. There's a place where chairs/tables are chained to railings to prevent theft which is understandable, but there's a bare table with no chairs and you can't even bring chairs to that table to sit at so why even have that table there?

Other than that, this park is breathtaking at night. Great place for a date. It gets cold since you're by the water, so bring a sweater. It can get pretty crowded during the daytime and sidewalks are narrow so you'll be constantly maneuvering yourself to avoid others. Basically, I only enjoy this park at the...