Once called “nice island” by Native Americans Randalls Island has a varied past. This is Randalls Island. Originally inhabited by American Indians it was purchased in 1637 by Dutch Governor Wouter Van Twiller.
Van Twiller used the land for farming. Later it became a station for British soldiers. It even served as a quarantine area for smallpox victims for over 150 years. In 1772, John Montresor renamed it Montresor’s Island. He lived there until the Revolutionary War. British troops launched attacks on Manhattan from here.
Jonathan Randell purchased Randalls Island in 1784. In 1835 New York City bought it from his family for $60000. The city developed the island as a place for the poor. A poorhouse was built. There was also a home for juvenile delinquents. A mental health facility and a hospital followed. Civil War veterans found a home here.
In the 1930s the city sought a new purpose for Randalls Island. It was cleared for recreation. For many years Downing Stadium was the centerpiece. It hosted unforgettable sporting events. In 1936 Jesse Owens won the 100-yard dash at the Olympic Trials. President Franklin Roosevelt was there. The stadium was renamed in 1955. It honored former Recreation Director John J. Downing.
Track and field returned to Downing Stadium in 1991. The United States National Track & Field Championships took place. Olympians and world record holders competed. These included Dan O’Brien Dave Johnson Leroy Burrell and Carl Lewis. In 1975 Pele made his American soccer debut for the New York Cosmos at Downing. Tiger Woods hosted a golf clinic for city kids in 1996.
Randalls and Wards Islands are conjoined. They are surrounded by the Harlem River the East River and Hell Gate. The Bronx Kill separates them from the Bronx. Little Hell Gate once separated the two islands. Robert Moses connected them in the 1960s using landfills.
Before Europeans the Native Americans called Wards Island Tenkenas. It meant “Wild Lands” or “uninhabited place.” The Islands’ first European names were Great Barent Island for Wards Island and Little Barent Island for Randalls Island. They were named after Dutch cowherd Barent Jansen Bloom.
In the mid-19th century the New York City Asylum for the Insane was founded on Wards Island. It opened in 1863. The state took control in 1871. It was renamed the Manhattan State Hospital. It became the world’s largest psychiatric hospital.
Negro Point was renamed Scylla Point in 2001. It coordinates with Charybdis Playground in Astoria Park. This relates to Greek sea monsters Scylla and Charybdis. Randalls Island once housed the Street Crime Unit. In 2015 the Critical Response Command was stationed here. This unit responds to international terror attacks.
The Randalls Island Waterfront Garden offers flowers plants and trees. It has river and skyline views. The Randall’s Island Park Alliance offers guided tours. The Randall’s Island Green Roof is atop the Parks Department’s Five Borough Administration Building. It functions as a green roof laboratory. NYC Beekeeping cares for the honeybee hives here.
The Hell Gate Bridge connects Astoria Queens to Randalls and Wards Islands. It was built in 1917. The Triborough Bridge was built in 1936. It connects the islands to the city. The Wards Island Bridge connects the islands to Manhattan. The Randalls Island Connector links the island to the South Bronx. Bryant Park’s bodies were moved to Wards Island.
Randalls Island is open daily. It is a big park with facilities. It has eight miles of pathways. The island technically makes up part of Manhattan. Once two islands they were joined by debris from construction projects. Robert Moses designated the islands for recreational use. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt opened the park in 1936.
Musical events have been happening on Randalls Island since 1938. Governors Ball Panorama and Electric Zoo are heavily attended events. Randalls Island is also home to one of the city’s largest Urban Farms. It offers children and families a chance to learn from agriculture.
If you like sports Randalls Island has many athletic fields. Icahn Stadium hosts national and international track and field events. So as you stand here remember the layers of history. From Native American origins to modern-day recreation Randalls Island is a testament to New York City’s ever-evolving landscape.