During the April 3 Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors meeting Public Session, Roosevelt Island resident Mary McCechan and Carter Burden Network Roosevelt Island Older Adult Center Director Lisa Fernandez asked RIOC to implement a free access program for use by limited income Roosevelt Island seniors at the Sportspark pool
and recreational center.
According to Ms McCechan:
… Older adults are the nations fastest growing population. The number of
older adults in the State has ballooned. In New York City in this next
deck decade, the number of older adults will surpass the number of
children for the first time in history.
Governments and responsible community agencies are realigning and
preparing policy and programs for these changing demographics across this
nation.
The most serious challenges for older adults center on isolation, health,
well-being and living on a fixed income.
The pool at SportsPark can address all these challenges. Yet for older
adults, the utilization of the pool has dropped by almost 47% from 285 to
the current registration of 151.
Given our current inflation rate, living on a fixed income has become
particularly difficult. Cost is the biggest stated reason for older
adults, not using the pool.
Traditionally during non-peak hours, there have always been free pool
hours for the seniors on Roosevelt Island. We are asking that free hours
for senior swimming be reestablished.
This is about community building and as stakeholders together we can help
ensure that older adults are active and engaged members of the Roosevelt
Island community….
RIOC listened and yesterday announced a program providing free access for Roosevelt Island seniors at the Sportspark. According to RIOC Communications Director Bryant Daniels:
A few weeks ago, several island seniors met with our Constituent
Services Department to discuss ways to improve senior utilization of
Sportspark, specifically in the pool, which has always been a popular
destination. It was a productive meeting, with our Constituent Services
Department stating they would take the feedback back to Sportspark for
review, and the Senior group indicating they would also bring it up at
the next meeting of the RIOC Board of Directors. Following those events,
the Sportspark team put together this new plan to offer free swim
periods for island seniors on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11 am to 2 pm,
starting April 15th. Additionally, for seniors who want to get active
but may not want to swim, were also now offering a free afternoon yoga
chair class every Tuesday from 12 pm to 12:45 pm in the Sportspark
fitness studio. Seniors interested in taking advantage of these special
program periods simply need to show ID at the Sportspark desk for proof
of age.
We understand that many seniors are on a fixed income, and
although Sportspark is already incredibly well-priced, we thought it was
important to make these additional services available for older adults
in the community who may have been on the fence about visiting the
Sportspark complex.
I asked Mr Daniels:
How come if you use this program, you cant use during other hours?
Mr Daniels replied:
We still have the reduced rate of $25 per month for seniors to use the
facility anytime, whenever they want. These special hours and programs
are designed for folks on a more limited fixed income, during hours we
think will be popular.
Carter Burden Roosevelt Island Older Adult Center Director Lisa
Fernandez adds:
This was a team effort; Mary McCechan, Elizabeth Berg, Ronnye Halper and
myself originally met with Bryant Daniels & Amanda Dominguez.
They were very receptive and willing to listen. Im really happy the
older adult community has additional opportunities to stay fit and
active.
Also, pleased that RIOC has been very open and communicative.
Again, a team effort with a good outcome!
Here’s Ms McCechan and Ms Fenandez speaking at the April 3 RIOC
Board meeting Public Session.
Kudos to the new Interim RIOC leadership of Deputy General Counsel Gerrald Ellis, Chief Financial Officer Dhru Amin, RIOC Board member Howard Polivy and the rest of the RIOC Board for listening and engaging with the Roosevelt Island residents to better serve our community.
The Sportspark recreational facility was re-opened May 19, 2023 after a $12 million renovation and an initial huge increase in fee schedule imposted by the prior RIOC administration which was reversed after widespread community protest.
Come along on a tour of the Sportspark recreational facility given
during its May 19 re-opening ceremony.
More info on the Roosevelt Island Sportspark recreational facility programs, schedules and fees at the RIOC website.
