Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park

1 FDR Four Freedoms Park, Roosevelt Island, NY 10044, USA

Address:	1 FDR Four Freedoms Park, Roosevelt Island, NY 10044, USA
Phone:	+1 212-204-8831
Site:	fdrfourfreedomspark.org
Rating:	4.4
Working:	9AM–7PM Closed 9AM–7PM 9AM–7PM 9AM–7PM 9AM–7PM 9AM–7PM

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 12

isholin

This is a true New York Jewel that is seldomly visited by locals. It’s a Park, its Architecture, Its Landscape Design, Its Fresh Air, Views, Trees and much more. The easiest way to get here is to take the Roosevelt Island tram from East 60th and Second avenue and to the South you start to see the Park BUT I recommend you take the subway and walk. Walk towards the Queensboro Bridge and you will have inspiring views of Manhattan to your right; the future Cornell-Technion University, Long Island City and the remnants of the Old Smallpox Hospital to your left. The memorial to President Franklin D. Roosevelt was announced by Governor Nelson Rockefeller and Mayor John Lindsay in 1973, and yet due to financial instability, the death of its architect Louis Kahn, and changes within NY State leadership, plans for the memorial were put aside. Gina Pollara completed Khan’s work with the help of his detailed sketches in 2014. My favorite way to make a grand entrance to the park is by using the stairs at the base of the triangle. As you go up you start to see the lawn, trees and perimeter walls converging on FDR’s bust made by Jo Davidson; all on a downward slope pointing to the river. To the right you see Manhattan, to the left Queens and in front one can see Brooklyn; the park is surrounded by water. Behind FDR’s bust you can see the Four Freedoms that were part of his 1941 state of the union address which are a tenet of American Values and still hold true after more than a half century: Freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want and freedom from fear. I believe Khan would have wanted to make the park entirely out of concrete but the final version was completed with a magnificent granite-and lots of it. The park follows Khan’s signature architectural style: clean lines, intriguing perspectives, spare landscaping, triangular lines that draw the eye. All this makes for a one-of-a-kind experience very worthwhile visiting- even for New Yorkers.

Carlos Aragon D.

Maravilloso parque memorial en honor de uno de los más populares y famosos expresidentes norteamericanos, tiene una estatua de él y una maravillosa zona verde arbolada, rematando al final de la isla igualmente con su nombre, dedicada en su honor. Se puede admirar una impresionante vista tanto de Manhattan justo frente al edificio de la ONU y del otro lado la zona de Queens. La caminata desde la estación del teleférico y del Metro es muy tranquila y placentera, sobre un malecón arbolado y plácido. También se puede admirar el viejo edificio de un hospital que ahí existió durante muchos años.

Flavia De Falco

Such a calm and breathtaking view of Manhattan! Far from the tourist. ----------------- Per arrivarci basta prender la tramway per roosevelt island su 60esima e seconda, costa come una corsa di metro, ed è compresa nel caso si possieda uno degli abbonamenti mensili o settimanali! La vista è a dir poco mozzafiato, soprattutto al tramonto, lo skyline della città si staglia nitido e vicino, regalando emozioni uniche in un luogo per niente turistico e sempre molto tranquillo!

Luke Hansen

This may be my favorite spot in NYC. To get to the park you can either take the subway or the tram. I highly recommend the tram. It gives you a different perspective of New York and you can use your metro card. From the tram/subway it is a relatively short walk to the park. Although the park is still (usually) open in winter and the views are still great, I recommend going when the grass is green and the trees are in bloom. There is a large lawn on which people can lounge. That space is lined by beautiful trees. They all point toward the bust of FDR and the view of Manhattan. The FDR bust is impressive and his quote about the four freedoms is awesome. Roosevelt Island and the park are becoming less of a secret but you still wont have the same crazy crowds you get elsewhere in the city.

Ronald Meltzer

Living on Roosevelt Island, I have been there many times. Today was most enjoyable, as a tour guide answered many of my questions about the design. However, I agree with Judy Berdy of the need for shelter for those who work there. It seems hypocritical to have a park dedicated to Franklin Roosevelt and his four freedoms, including the freedom from want, and to treat your workers so shabbily. I have seen workers shivering in the cold and told that they are up there in the rain. Please do the right thing and have a guard house or enclosed shelter. After all, this is the FDR Memorial and not the Michael Bloomberg museum.

Chris Southgate

What should be the best view from the southern point of the island is completely obscured by 3 metre concrete walls on 2 sides so you can only look south. I think these had something to do with FDR although we werent able to get close on the day, regardless they totally obscure what should be the best view of Manhattan and the east river from the south of the island. On the plus side it was very quiet and peaceful on the day we went (July 2016), not the easiest to get to with all the current construction work in the area but theres a route down the west side of the island.

James H. Scott

Though the park is visually appealing, and offers great views, its bizarrely restrictive. When we arrived, one of the other visitors was yelled at by some type of security guard that coffee isnt allowed in the park. No explanation was given. They werent selling coffee so I cant imagine that was it. Almost everything was fenced off. The monument itself just looks like a giant floating head. Overall, it seems like a place that they dont want anyone to actually visit, as if its supposed to just sit there in pristine condition, untouched.

W. Jay Hotaling

A beautiful island tip ruined by the construction of a park that makes all the mistakes parks / plazas designed in the 1970s did. Sadly it was built between 2005 and 2012 exactly as Kahn Specified in his plans from 1974. The result is a steril, uninviting, and poor tribute to President Roosevelt. If it wasnt the only formal park on the island with a semi-captive audience it would be like most other 70s sterile granite parks... Empty and abandoned. Come walk to enjoy Roosevelt Island! But dont come to be inspired by this park.

Matthias Leitner

Traumhafte Insel, leicht zu erreichen (meine Empfehlung wenn man Zeit hat durch die Seilbahn), fast schon ein Geheimtipp (solange bis der im Bau befindliche Campus fertig ist). Leider wird die Ruhe durch die umherschwirrenden Hubschrauber getrübt.

Uwe Haertel

Und wieder ein gefundenes Kleinod in einer Metropole. Wenn man kann, sollte man hier einen halben Tag verbringen. Hochinteressant mit Super Aussicht nach allen Seiten und Fahrt mit der Seilbahn in NY ... zu U-Bahn Tarifen ...

Val Bess

Wow, simply stunning. Super clean, peaceful, with some of the best views of the city. This is truly a getaway. Everyone there wants to be there because it takes some time to get to and is out of the way of everything else. If youre visiting Roosevelt Island, which is already a good idea, make sure not to miss visiting this park. I believe it is closed on Tuesdays and after 5 or 6 pm on other days so make sure it is open before you visit.

Brice Petruzzelli

FDR Park isnt going to top most lists of recommendations for where to go in NYC, but it should definitely be visited at some point during a visit. The park is quiet and peaceful, located in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the city. The views of both Manhattan and Long Island City are excellent and the water flowing on both sides of you can help calm you. Definitely worth a visit!