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Supreme Court Overturns Exclusive Concession Agreement at Randall's Island - Despite Legal Victory, East Harlem Residents Still Without Equitable Access:
Follow Links Below To Read the Latest News Reports and Background Materials
Lawsuit Successfully Challenges the Privatization of Randall's
Island Park Land (News Articles):
Randall's Island - June 27, 2009 BELOW : A Bronx couple are denied park access by a Bloomberg LP. security guard this past weekend. The couple were in the park attending a birthday party for their nephew. Photos courtesy of Geoffrey Croft, NYC Park Advocates.
Randall’s Island Sports New Look The main quad planned for Randall’s Island
Levien & Company is project manager for the Randall’s Island Sports Development Project, one of the largest public works projects in recent NYC history. The $127 million project will contain 64 state-of-the-art athletic fields, attendant roadways, parking, pedestrian pathways, lighting, landscaping, and comfort stations to be built on the island’s 300 acres.
Statement on the Water Park
"We are gratified that this ill conceived project has been stopped. However it should never have been allowed to go forward in the first place. Turning over vast amounts of public parkland to economic development projects in exchange for maintenance dollars for the park is not the solution. Our elected officials must begin to take the funding for park maintenance seriously. We would like to thank all the people who have worked tirelessly for the protection of this public parkland."
Geoffrey Croft,
NYC Park Advocates
Click Illustration Above to Read
Curious About How the Randall's Island Sports Foundation Operates?
John McEnroe's Next Frontier: Home (Wall Street Journal, July 20, 2010) These lucky nonprofit park workers are getting a salary from city Parks Department, too (New York Daily News, July 11, 2010) Private Schools Dominate Fields At Randall's Island (Gothamist, June 15, 2010) Randall's Island Reborn (The Architect's Newspaper, June 14, 2010) On Randalls Island, Private Schools Play Free (The New York Times, June 14, 2010) Private Schools Play for Free on Randall's Island (DNAinfo, June 14, 2010) Mariano Rivera, John McEnroe and High School Ballplayers Open Randall's Island Sports Fields (DNAinfo, May 20, 2010) McEnroe Tennis Academy a Reality (World Tennis Magazine, May 19, 2010) Randall's Island Park Hosts Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony For New Sport Fields, 5/19 (Broadway World, May 18, 2010) John McEnroe Puts Oomph Behind Alternative Tennis Academy (The New York Times, May 7, 2010) Soaked Parade Grounds stays shut as the city eyes irrigation (New York Daily News, March 9, 2010) Ferries Needed for Cirque Du Soleil's Return to Randall's Island (DNAinfo, February 12, 2010) Turf War: Why the fight for private school access to public land isn’t over yet (West Side Spirit, January 13, 2009) Turf War: Why the fight for private school access to public land isn’t over yet (West Side Spirit, January 13, 2009) Court Decision: Citywide Council on High Schools, et al. v. FCRC et al. (Amended, December 29, 2009) Judge Rejects City's Private Ballfield Plan For Randalls Island ... Again (Gothamist, December 23, 2009) Randalls Island play to hand control of ballfields to private schools nixed again (New York Daily News, December 23, 2009) Judge Rules Against City's Plan To Lease Ball Fields To Private Schools (NY1, December 23, 2009) Courts Rule Against City's Plan for Randall's Island, Again (WNYC Radio, December 23, 2009) Judge slams city's preppy-sport boo$t (New York Post, December 23, 2009) Judge rules Randall's Island field plan illegal (WABC News, December 23, 2009) Court rules against Randall’s Island land use (The Real Deal, December 23, 2009) New Randalls Island Deal With Private Schools Is Rejected (The New York Times, December 23, 2009) Court Orders Council Vote on Randall's Island Redevelopment (WNYC Radio, December 22, 2009) Judge Rules Randalls Island Sports Fields Should Remain Public (DNAinfo, December 22, 2009) Judge Rips City/Parks Department Over Randall's Island Pay-To-Play Concession Deal - Lack Of Environmental Review (A Walk in the Park, December 22, 2009) Court Shoots Down City Deal With Private Schools (The New York Times, December 22, 2009) Testimony presented to NYC Franchise and Concession Review Committee On Proposed Randall’s Island Concession Agreement (Philip, June 8, 2009) Testimony presented to NYC Franchise and Concession Review Committee On Proposed Randall’s Island Concession Agreement (Haimson, June 8, 2009) Testimony presented to NYC Franchise and Concession Review Committee On Proposed Randall’s Island Concession Agreement (Ortiz, June 8, 2009) Testimony presented to NYC Franchise and Concession Review Committee On Proposed Randall’s Island Concession Agreement (Mark-Viverito, June 8, 2009) Randall's Island Quietly Transforms (Our Town , September 22, 2008) Testimony Before the NYC Council Parks & Recreation Committee Oversight Hearing on Randall's Island (Haimson, September 22, 2008) Testimony Before the NYC Council Parks & Recreation Committee Oversight Hearing on Randall's Island (Simmons-Taylor, September 22, 2008) Testimony Before the NYC Council Parks & Recreation Committee Oversight Hearing on Randall's Island (Ortiz, September 22, 2008) Testimony Before the NYC Council Parks & Recreation Committee Oversight Hearing on Randall's Island (Croft, September 22, 2008) Bloomberg L.P. “Summer Party ‘08″ Takes Over Randalls Island (WSP Blog, June 23, 2008) Request for Inquiry Into RISF/Parks Department Land Use Practices on Randall's Island (Foster, Mark-Vivierito, June 18, 2008) Randall's Island Golf Course Reopens In City's Backyard (NY 1 News, June 4, 2008) Randalls Island 'Field of Schemes' Plan Now Totally Bizarre (Curbed, May 21, 2008) State Judge Allows Randall's Island Ball Fields To Move Forward (NY 1 News, May 21, 2008) More Ball Fields Allowed Despite Voiding of Deal (The
New York Times , May 21, 2008) Prep schools can build fields of dreams on Randalls Isle (New York Daily News , May 21, 2008) NY judge clears way for Randall's Island playing fields (Newsday , May 21, 2008) Randall's Plan Is Struck Out (New York Post , May 21, 2008) Randall's Island Golf Center Reopens After Major Makeover (NY 1 News, May 14, 2008) Bitter fight over park goes on (Metro NY , April 11, 2008) Lawsuit Filed to Block Randalls Island Project (WNYC Radio, April 10, 2008) Tennis center enthusiasts prepared to cause racket (Metro NY , April 9, 2008) New tennis complex will add courts, stadium at Randall's Island (Staten Island Advance , April 2, 2008) 20 New Courts and a Stadium Planned on Randalls Island (The New York Times , April 2, 2008) Randall's Island: Public Space in Flux (NYC 24, April 2008) Locals Score Win On Randall's Island (Latin Week NY , February 22, 2008) Randalls Island Hearing Delayed (New York Observer , February 19, 2008) City has fuzzy math on Randall’s Island redo (Metro NY , February 19, 2008) Runaround on Randall’s? (Gotham Gazette , February 13, 2008) City Hall tunes out judge's ruling on Randalls Island pay-to-play ballfield (New York Daily News , February 13, 2008) What ruling? Dump trucks still roll on Randall’s Island (Metro NY , February 13, 2008) State Supreme Court Blocks Randall's Island Private School Deal (NY 1 News, February 1, 2008) Randalls Island Sports Field Deal Stymied by Judge (Gothamist , February 1, 2008) Randalls Is. ballfields stay public - judge (New York Daily News , February 1, 2008) Private Schools Can't Play on Randalls Island (The New York Sun , February 1, 2008) Judge kills Randall’s Island deal (Metro NY , February 1, 2008) Deal Over Randalls Island Sports Fields Is Voided (The New York Times , February 1, 2008) Judge kills city's private school sports fields deal (Newsday , February 1, 2008) Randall's Island decision; public school children win! (Press Release, January 31, 2008) Order Annulling Approval of New Fields on Randall's Island (New York State Supreme Court, January 31, 2008) Fight Over Sports Fields Brews in NYC (Associated Press , January 29, 2008) NYC sued over private school deal to transform public parkland (Newsday , January 27, 2008) Randall's Island deal gives new meaning to pay-to-play (Crain's New York Business , January 14, 2008) Judge Queries Plan to Give Private Schools Priority on Randalls Island (The New York Times , January 11, 2008) Randall's Field Plan Foul: Foes (New York Post , January 11, 2008) Judge Scornful of Bloomberg Administration Arguments in Randall's Island Lawsuit (NYC PSP, January 10, 2008) Arguments Are Heard in Randall's Island Lawsuit (Press Release, January 10, 2008) Harlem Residents to Square Off Vs. City Over Randall's Island (The New York Su n, January 10, 2008) Randall's Island lawsuit in court (Metro New York , January 10, 2008) Randall's Island Project Stranded in Court (Gothamist , January 10, 2008) NYC nixes planned water park on Randall's Island (The Canadian Press , October 4, 2007) City Sinks Water Park Plan For Randall's Island (NY 1 News, September 22, 2007) With Financing in Doubt, City Cancels Plans for Randall's Island Water Park (The New York Times , September 22, 2007) City cancels plans for Randall's Island water park (New York Daily News , September 22, 2007) NYC nixes planned water park on Randall's Island (Newsday , September 22, 2007) Randall's Water Park Goes Down the Drain (New York Post , September 22, 2007) Water park boondoggle builder misses deadline (New York Daily News , September 21, 2007) Randall's Island Water Park Plans Waterlogged (Gothamist , September 21, 2007) Drip, drip on water park (New York Daily News , September 20, 2007) Controller: Parks Dept. broke law by extending park deadline (New York Daily News , September 18, 2007) Questions About Park (The New York Times , September 18, 2007) Comptroller Criticizes Randall's Island Park (WNYC Radio, September 18, 2007) Comptroller wants to sink water park (Metro New York , September 18, 2007) Troubled Randall's Island proposal faces deadline (amNew York , September 18, 2007) Letter to Mayor Bloomberg Regarding Randall's Island Water Park (Comptroller William Thompson, September 17, 2007) Randall's Island Waterpark and Private Beach Club Rejected by NYSDEC (NYC Indymedia, August 15, 2007) On Playing Fields, Grass Is an Endangered Species (The New York Times , August 13, 2007) Advocates Take Issue with New Randall's Island (WNYC News, August 3, 2007) Work Begins on Randall's Island Fields as Opponents Cry Foul (The New York Sun , August 3, 2007) Padres de El Barrio contra plan Randall’s (El Diario/La Prensa , 2 de Agosto, 2007) All Play Ball on Randall's I. (New York Post , August 3, 2007) Officials Break Ground On Randall's Island Parks, But Some Protest Private Funding (NY 1 News, August 2, 2007) Residents Protest Private Schools Getting Sports Facilities On Island (Associated Press , August 2, 2007) Community Protest of Bloomberg's Sale of Public Parkland at Field Groundbreaking (Press Release, August 1, 2007) Open Letter to Comptroller Thompson (Bubbins, July 24, 2007) Sprinturf to Develop 11 New Soccer Fields at Randall's Island, New York (PR Web, July 17, 2007) Deal Will Open 290 School Playgrounds to the Public (The New York Times , July 2, 2007) Randall’s Islands Sports Fields Development News (July 2007) Randall's Island Site Park Plan (RISF, July 2007) Randall's Island playing fields update (Insideschools.org, June 15, 2007) Playgrounds For All (New York Press , June 15, 2007) [East] Harlem Residents File Suit Over Randall's Island Sports Fields (WNYC Radio, June 15, 2007) Lawsuit Against City Claims Randall's Sports Fields Deal Is Unfair (NY 1 News, June 15, 2007) Lawsuit Seeks to Break Deal Over Use of Randall's I. (The New York Times , June 15, 2007) Lawsuit against Randall’s Island plan (Metro NY , June 15, 2007) Deal With Schools on Playing Field Use Is Challenged (The New York Sun , June 15, 2007) Parents sue to block sports field deal (Newsday , June 15, 2007) Lawsuit on Randall's Island Filed Today (Press Release, June 14, 2007) Unfair play for pricey park (New York Daily News , May 25, 2007) You gotta pay to play, kids (American Public Media, May 7, 2007) Randall's Island Park To Undergo Major Restorations (NY 1 News, May 4, 2007) Field of schemes (Time Out NY Kids , April 18, 2007) Testimony before the City Council Parks and Recreation Committee (T. Lunke, Harlem River Taskforce, March 22, 2007) Class-War Bigots (New York Post , February 18, 2007) Deal's not as sweet as it looks (New York Daily News , February 16, 2007) Temen no poder iniciar liga de beisbol para menores (El Diario/La Prensa , 15 de febrero de 2007) Nod to Randall’s Island plan (Metro NY , February 15, 2007)
$52M Field Day (New York Post , February 15, 2007) Manhattan: Ball Fields Approved for Randall's Island (The New York Times , February 15, 2007) Randall's Island Park Private Fund Plan Approved (WNYC Radio, February 14, 2007) Randall’s Island "Community" Access Task Force Memorandum of Understanding (Office of the Mayor, February 14, 2007) Field of broken hearts (New York Daily News , February 14, 2007) Officials, Parents, Rally in Opposition to City’s Plan to Privatize Public Fields (LoHo , February 14, 2007) Randall’s cerca de manos privadas (El Diario/La Prensa , 14 de febrero de 2007) Randall's Island Ball Field Plan Faces Sharp Criticism Before Vote (NY 1 News, February 14, 2007) Letter to Comptroller Thompson (R. Jereski, Feb. 14, 2007) ‘Pay to play’ old news (Metro NY , February 13, 2007) Testimony of Manhattan Community Board 11 at February 13, 2007 Franchise and Concession Review Committee Hearing Testimony Before Franchise and Concession Review Committee (Patrick Sullivan, Class Size Matters, February 13, 2007) Testimony of Councilmember Melissa Mark-Viverito at the Franchise Concession & Review Committee Hearing on the Proposed Randall's Island Ball Fields Project, February 13, 2007 Private strings on public fields (El Diario/La Prens a, 13 de febrero de 2007) Furor over public parks-private school plan (New York Newsday , February 13, 2007) Play ball on Randall's Island (New York Daily News , February 13, 2007) Randall's Island: Playground for Richy Rich Kids? (Gothamist , February 10, 2007) Pay to Play (NYC Educator , February 10, 2007) On Randall's Island, New Ball Fields via Deal With Elite Schools (The New York Times , February 10, 2007) Randall's for Rich (New York Daily News , February 9, 2007) Proposed Modifications to Draft of Randall's Island Sports Fields Improvement Project Agreement (Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer, February 8, 2007) Letter to the Franchise and Concessions Review Committee (T. Gorman Reilly, CIVITAS, February 7, 2007) Manhattan Community Board 7 Supports Schools Council Resolution Opposing Privatization (February 6, 2007) Criticism Heaped on City Plan to Rent Sports Fields to Schools
(WNYC Radio, February 1, 2007) Critics rip athletic field plan (New York Daily News , February 1, 2007) Response by NYC Parks Commissioner to January 25th Group Letter to Mayor Bloomberg (A. Benepe, February 1, 2007) Transcript of NYC Council Parks & Recreation Committee Hearing on Randall's Island Franchise, (January 31, 2007) Parks Commish: "I'd Be Lined Up and Shot" (New York Observer , January 31, 2007) Resolution on Randall's Island Plan (Community Education Council for District 4, January 31, 2007) Statement of Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer Before the New York City Council Parks Committee regarding The Randall’s Island Ball Fields Development Project, January 31, 2007 Testimony before the New York City Council Committee on Parks and Recreation (Urban Dove, January 31, 2007) Testimony before the New York City Council Committee on Parks and Recreation (Harlem RBI, January 31, 2007) Statement by Robert Jereski in Support of Full Public Access to Ball Fields on Randall's Island and Against the Deal, January 31, 2007 Testimony by William C. Thompson, Jr. NYC Comptroller at City Council Parks Committee on Randall’s Island contract, Jan. 31, 2007 Testimony of Assemblymember Deborah J. Glick at City Council Parks Committee on Randall’s Island contract, Jan. 31, 2007 Testimony of Eugenia Simmons-Taylor, President of President’s Council, District 4 Before the City Council Parks Committee on Randall’s Island contract January 31, 2007 Testimony of Noah S. Budnick, Deputy Director, Advocacy for Transportation Alternatives at City Council Parks Committee on Randall’s Island contract January 31, 2007 Testimony re Randall’s Island Fields Proposal @ NYC Council Parks Committee Mtg. (L. Haimson, Class Size Matters, January 31, 2007) The New Randall's Island: Separate and Unequal? (EHP Testimony at NYC Council Parks Committee Hearing, January 31, 2007) Resolution on Randall's Island Plan (Community Education Council for District 3, January 31, 2007) City to pass bucks on Randall’s Island (Metro NY , January 31, 2007) Pay-to-play plan a foul ball, commish (New York Daily News , January 31, 2007) Parks ‘dance’ not over (Metro NY , January 30, 2007) Draft Randall’s Island Sports Fields Improvement Project Agreement (January 29, 2007) Private Partnerships For Public Parks (Gotham Gazette , January 29, 2007) Bad smell at 120M ballfields (New York Daily News , January 26, 2007) Letter to Bloomberg Re: Randall's Island Field Proposal (Class Size Matters et al., January 24, 2007) Letter to Bloomberg Opposing Planned Randall's Island Ball Fields Franchise and Water Park (New Yorkers for Parks, et al., January 23, 2007) Public Parks and Private Schools (The New York Times , January 21, 2007) Letter to
Mayor Micheal Bloomberg on the Randall's Island Sports Foundation Sub-Concession with 20 Private Schools (Community Board 11, January 17, 2007) sSchools Battle Over Use of Randall's Island Athletic Fields (NY 1 News, January 11, 2007) Position on Randall’s Island Athletic Fields Proposal (New Yorkers for Parks, January 2007) Randall's scandal deal near (New York Daily News , December 27, 2006) Ties Run Deep Between Bruno and an Investor (The New York Times , December 16, 2006) Summary of Discussion at the NYU-Wagner Rudin Center for Transportation Policy and Management Regarding Access to Randall’s Island, December 13, 2006 Follow-Up Letter to Parks Dept. Commissioner Adrian Benepe and Randall’s Island Sports Foundation Chairman Richard Davis (Manhatttan Borough President Stringer, November 11, 2006) Letter to the Editor: Private Schools' Access To Randall's Island (The New York Times , November 5, 2006) Locals Battle Over Playing Fields On Randall's Island (NY 1 News, November 4, 2006) Deal called fair share on ballfields (New York Daily News , November 4, 2006) Debaten polémico proyecto (El Diario/La Prensa , 4 de noviembre de 2006) Testimony at NYC Council Parks Committee on Proposed Randall's Island Ball Fields Franchise (New Yorkers for Parks, Nov. 3, 2006) Statement by Community Board 11 District Manager George Sarkissian at NYC Council Parks Committee on Proposed Randall's Island Ball Fields Franchise (November 3, 2006) Statement of Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer Before the New York City Council Parks Committee regarding The Randall’s Island Ball Fields Development Project (November 3, 2006) Statement to the NYC Council Parks Committee on Proposed Randall's Island Ball Fields Franchise (Merino, November 3, 2006) Testimony at NYC Council Parks Committee on Proposed Randall's Island Ball Fields Franchise (Ortiz, November 3, 2006) Testimony at NYC Council Parks Committee Opposing Proposed Randall's Island Ball Fields Franchise (Jereski, November 3, 2006) Testimony at NYC Council Parks Committee Opposing Proposed Randall's Island Ball Fields Franchise (Sullivan, November 3, 2006) Testimony at NYC Council Parks Committee on Proposed Randall's Island Ball Fields Franchise (Haimson, November 3, 2006) Randall’s plan on hold (Metro New York , November 3, 2006) Proyecto excluye a escuelas públicas (El Diario/La Prensa , 28 de octubre de 2006) Keep public parks public (New York Daily News , October 27, 2006) Poor kids losing turf war (New York Daily News , October 25, 2006) On a Coveted Green Space, Tensions at Play (The New York Times , October 22, 2006) Randall's Island water park washed up? (Metro New York , October 20, 2006) City has park plan for private schools (Metro New York, October 11, 2006) Stringer balks at ballfields plan (New York Daily News , October 11, 2006) Judge Rules Against Bid to Dismiss Parks Dept. Suit (The New York Sun , September 19, 2006) Council to hold hearings on Parks Dept. oversight (Metro NY , August 22, 2006) Group Wants Parks Dept. Probe (Metro NY , August 9, 2006) Presentation on Water Park (Friends of Brook Park, August 2006) Long time Armory Mainstay Takes Position at Randall's Island (Armory Foundation News , July, 2006) Designing the Edge (Harlem River Park Taskforce, May 2006) Legal snag possible for new water park (Metro , April 12, 2006) Testimony on the Proposed Randall's Island Water Park (Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance, April 10, 2006) Statement on Randall's Island Water Park (NYC Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr., April 11, 2006) Testimony Presented to Franchise and Concession Review Committee (Bubbins, April 10, 2006) Splash In Harlem Over Water Park (NY 1 News, April 11, 2006) Randall's Island Water Park Set for Final Approval Vote (The New York Times , April 10, 2006)
Beep's Hot For Water Park Now (NY Daily News , April 8, 2006) Apoyan parque acuático de diversiones/Water Park OK By Beep (El Diario/La Prensa/NY Post , 8 de abril de 2006) Letter to the Manhattan Borough President, Aquatic Development Group, Inc., April 7, 2006) Governor Announces $850,000 for Randall’s Island Recreation (Press Release, April 7, 2006) Great Adventure-Style Water Park May Be Headed to City (The New York Sun , March 29, 2006) Water Park to Open on Randall's Island in 2008 (Columbia Daily Spectator , March 28, 2006) Rough Rapids for Randall's Island Water Park Proposal (Water Wire , March 22, 2006) Water Park Project Soaks Poor (NY Daily News , March 14, 2006) Randall’s Island Rip-Off (Indymedia , March 6, 2006) Activists try to drum up water park foes (Metro NY , March 1, 2006) Randall's Island Development Fueled by Giuliani Donors (NYC Indy Media , February 25, 2006) Kids Design New Randall's Island Water Park (Epoch Times , February 25, 2006) GAA Drops Plans to Build Stadium in NY's Randall's Island (Epoch Times International , February 22, 2006) New NYC Water Park to Include Indoor Beach (The Associated Press , February 12, 2006) City Wants to Part With Bridge That Links Bronx and Manhattan (The New York Times , January 14, 2006) Randall’s Island Water Park Gets Nod (Metro New York , January 12, 2006) Making Waves (NY Daily News , January 11, 2006) City Hopes To Turn Island Into Water Park (NY 1 News, January 11, 2006) Wanna Buy a Bridge? (The New Yorker , January 9, 2006) A Bridge Too Far? Increasing Pedestrian Access to Randall’s Island (Tiempo NY , December 23, 2005) When a Bridge Divides (The New York Times , November 6, 2005) Homeless On Wards Island Say They’re Trapped Because They Can’t Afford Bus Fare (NY 1 News , July 26, 2005) NY On Track to Prominence (Boston Globe , June 11, 2005) New Track Shines on Randall's Island (The New York Sun , April 20, 2005) Stadium of Dreams (New York Daily News , April 17, 2005) Icahn Stadium at Randall's Island (New York Construction , December 2004) City Planning Commission Report on Randall's Island Aquatic Center (C 040459 MCM, 9/8/2004) $3.2 Million Pledged to Restore New York Islands
(ENS, February 19, 2003) Governor: $3.2 Million for Randall's and Wards Island Park (Press Release, February 15, 2003) Big Plans for Island Wind Up in Court - SCROLL DOWN (New York Times, June 30, 2002) The Hell Gate: Chapter 7 from "At Sea in the City: New York from the Water's Edge" (Algonquin Books, 2002) Mayor Giuliani Announces Major Public/Private Development Projects for Randall's Island (Press Release, May 21, 2001)
