Randall's Island (New York City, New York)

 island, draw only border

(Postcard photo above, circa 1930, shows Randall's Island before infilling of Little Hell Gate waterway connected it to Ward's Island.)

Dutch Governor Wouter Van Twiller purchased Randall's Island, then known as Minnahanonck, from the Native Americans in 1637. Over the next 200 years, Randall's Island was used for farming, as a station for British soldiers, and as a quarantine area for smallpox victims. The island was purchased by Jonathan Randel (or Randal) in 1784, for whom it is named (although with a different spelling). His heirs sold it to the city for $60,000 in 1835.

Randall's Island is located along the East River between Northern Manhattan and Queens. After its purchase, the city built a burial ground for the poor, a poorhouse, a House of Refuge for juvenile delinquents, an Idiot Asylum, a homeopathic hospital, an Inebriate Asylum, and a rest home for Civil War veterans on the island. The physical isolation of the island provided distance between the public and the institutions for the sick and the poor. In 1930 the Metropolitan Conference on Parks recommended that the island be cleared of its institutions and be used solely for recreation. In 1933 the state acted on the Conference's recommendation by transferring ownership to Parks & Recreation. This began the island's transformation into a recreational hub.

With the opening the Triborough Bridge by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936, the public attained easy access to Randall's Island. Parks Commissioner Robert Moses launched a comprehensive program to build recreational spaces such as ballfields, playgrounds, and a stadium. He evacuated the original children's hospital and closed the House of Refuge. Over the following three decades, Commissioner Moses gradually filled in the space between Randall's and Wards Islands to allow for even greater recreational area.

For many years, the stadium was the centerpiece of activity on the island. It held a number of unforgettable sporting events beginning with Jesse Owens' victory in the 100-yard dash at the 1936 Olympic Trials with President Franklin Roosevelt in attendance. The stadium was named in memory of former Director of Recreation John J. Downing in 1955. Track & field returned to Downing Stadium in 1991 with the United States National Track & Field Championships. A number of former and future Olympians and world record holders competed, including Dan O'Brien, Dave Johnson, Leroy Burrell, and Carl Lewis. Pele made his American soccer debut for the New York Cosmos at Downing in 1975, and Tiger Woods hosted a golf clinic for city kids in 1996.

Beyond sports, Downing Stadium held, and continues to hold, large music festivals. The Duke Ellington Orchestra performed a memorial concert of composer George Gershwin in 1938. Jimi Hendrix, Steppenwolf, and Grand Funk Railroad played at the three-day New York Pop Festival of 1970. Throughout the 1990's Downing has attracted other large music festivals and concerts such as Lollapalooza, H.O.R.D.E. (Horizons Of Rock Developing Everywhere), Pearl Jam, and the Tibetan Freedom Concert.

The Randall's Island Sports Foundation (formed in 1992) and Parks & Recreation maintain and support the 22 ballfields, 11 tennis courts, 5 soccer/football fields, 400-meter track, driving range, 2 miniature golf courses, picnic area, and stadium on the island. The Randall's Island Sports Foundation (RISF) has raised $9.5 million in public and private funds to promote development of the park and its activities.

The symbol of Randall's Island is The Discus Thrower statue (1926) which stood on the Downing Stadium plaza from 1936 until the 1970s. The bronze by Greek sculptor Kostas Dimitriadis, donated to the City of New York by Ery W. Kehaya, was returned to Randall's Island in July 1999. The statue was restored with major funding from RISF Board Member Michael Bloomberg and friends of RISF.

Taken from the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation: www.nycgovparks.org/sub_your_park/historical_signs/hs_h...