Roosevelt Island resident Josina Baez is sick and tired of the shabby and
deteriorating condition of the Riverwalk Commons landscaping maintained by the
Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) – or more precisely, its lack of proper
care and maintenance.

Ms Baez writes:

Over the past few years the People’s (Riverwalk) Commons, because of lack of
regular maintenance, has seriously deteriorated. Even the planting of annual
flowers  was discontinued. 

New York City parks and numerous NY City local communities have volunteers
who are assisting the NY Park’s department in taking care of their gardens.
I believe we can do the same on Roosevelt Island. 

2 weeks ago with 2 other residents I met with Matthew Kibby, the chief of
Roosevelt Island Grounds Dept. and we walked the Commons. Mr. Kibby having
only +/- 10 people to take care of the whole island indicated that he would
appreciate our RI residents help, but he had to get permission of his Boss
for this to happen.

My request was: Clean up and weed and plant some annuals again. 

I DID NOT ASK FOR ANY FUNDS. 

I’m told this “Boss” sent my request to the RIOC LEGAL Dep’t  and there
it got stuck: no reply, no answer, no reason given for a YES or NO.

In the meantime the weeds are full grown plants by now and the Commons looks
“run-down”. The Commons belongs to all RI residents, a place where residents
come together to enjoy the outside, to socialize, to relax, to watch their
children play. It also should be a place of beauty.

I spoke to Ms Baez today about her efforts to clean up and beautify the
Roosevelt Island Riverwalk Commons.

Here’s what she had to say.

As we finished our talk, RIOC groundskeepers were spotted cutting hedges
around the Riverwalk Commons though according to Ms Baez and others, 

the groundskeepers should be using hand trimmers, not power trimming saw, to cut
the hedges.