Roosevelt Island. A narrow landmass in New York City’s East River, lies between Manhattan and Queens. Originally known as Welfare Island due to its hospitals and institutions, it was renamed in 1973 after President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The island spans approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) in length and covers 147 acres (0.59 km²), connected to Manhattan via the iconic Roosevelt Island Tramway, subway, and ferry services.
Development transformed Roosevelt Island into a planned residential community in the 1970s under the New York State Urban Development Corporation. Today, it hosts around 12,000 residents in mixed-income housing, along with landmarks like the ruins of the Renwick Smallpox Hospital, Cornell Tech campus, Four Freedoms State Park honoring Roosevelt, and green spaces including Southpoint Park with its Wildlife Freedom Foundation Cat Sanctuary.
The island features unique amenities such as a dedicated Public Safety Department, community school, and recent additions like Commons East park with dog run facilities. Wildlife sightings, including harbor seals in the surrounding waters, highlight improving environmental conditions. Roosevelt Island exemplifies innovative urban planning, blending history, education, technology, and nature in a car-light environment accessible primarily by public transit.