Regional Plan of New York and Its Environs - THE REGIONAL PLAN OF NEW YORK AND ITS ENVIRONS

Sep 21, 2026

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Letter and memorandum presenting recommendations to a city planning and survey committee regarding the East River islands—especially Welfare Island, Ward's Island, and Randall's Island. The document argues the islands deserve early attention due to opportunities for reallocation, housing needs for current inmates, and potential public uses. It emphasizes that as a group the islands form a unique, city-owned resource with central location and limited connectivity constraints, meriting comprehensive planning rather than fragmented departmental control.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages13

Reading Time33 min

AccessFree to download

INTENTIONAL

SECOND EXPOSURES DUE TOPHOTOGRAPHS

CONCERNING THE EAST RIVERISLANDS

A LETTER FROM THE REGIONAL PLAN OF NEW YORK AND ITS ENVIRONS

COMMITTEE ON REGIONAL PLAN OF NEW YORK AND ITS ENVIRONS

THE EAST

97-84093-23Regional Plan of New York and Its EnvironsThe East River islands,their role in a city plan [New York] [1926] # COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIESPBESERVATION DIVISION BIBLIOGRAPHIC MICROFORM TARGET OBIGINAL MATEBIAL AS FILMED-EXISTING BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD Roproductorns may not be maco wthout pembolon tom Coumbia UnvwntyLorarles. RESTRICTIONS ON USE: TECHNICAL MICROFORM DATA FILM SIZE: 35mREDUCTION RATIO: 14/ DATE FILMED: 5/ao/97INITIALS: IM TRACKINGz: 23656 FILMED BY PRESERVATION RESOURCES,BETHLEHEM,PA. # INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURES DUE TOPHOTOGRAPHS # CONCERNING THE EAST RIVERISLANDS A LETTER FROM ## THE REGIONAL PLAN OF NEW YORK AND ITS ENVIRONSTO THE CITY PLANNING AND SURVEY COMMITTEEAPPOINTED BY MAYOR WALKER September 10,1926 To THE Cry PLANNING AND SuRVEY CoMMITTEE,NEw YoRKCrTY, Gentlemen; The East River islands,particularly Welfare Island,Ward'sIsland,and Randall's Island,deserve to receive attention fromyour Committee at an early date. This is not because they are as important as are some otherthings,but because they now present certain opportunities whichyou may be glad to avail yourselves of before your labors arefinished,and because proposals for immediate large expendi-tures on Welfare Island might,if sanctioned before you havetaken stock of the situation,mar plans which you will desire torecommend later. These islands are city property and constitute a part of theBorough of Manhattan.It has long been the practice to parcelthese three islands out among different departments and institu-tions.This practice takes no account of the potentialities of thewhole situation.Yet the three islands,taken as a group and con-sidered in connection wich any comprehensive planning,will beseen to bea unique and interesting feature of the NewYork map. Being convinced of this much only,the staff of the RegionalPlan Committee some time ago approached the islands in a spirit ②③④ of inquiry.Taking thought first for the inmates of the presentisland institutions,it sought to ascertain whether they hadbetter be in such a situation or elsewhere.After it appeared thata great part of them are now so badly housed that extensiverehousing is to be desired,and that,in the sole interest of theinmates,new housing might as well or better be located else-where-we then questioned whether the islands,looked at fromthe point of view of the city rather than of the inmates,are beingput to the best use or might be more valuable to the city if de-voted in whole or in part to recreation or to some other purpose. Without urging conclusions at this time,we submit herewith amemorandum which you may find suggestive. It does not dwell upon what was the first phase of our owninquiry.The reports of the Commissioner of Corection,of thePrison Association of New York,of the Grand Jurors Associa-tion-which discuss the penal institutions-are accessible to youand leave little room for doubt.Similarly the policy of the StateHospital Commission as to the patients on Ward's Island,andthe opinions of experts regarding those who are now confined toRandall's Island,are well known.So this brief memorandumtouches chiefly the second question,"What is the best use thecity can make of the islands?” If we can be of further aid in the matter we shall be glad to becalled on. Yours truly, THOMAS ADAMS, Grnral Dirctor of Planr and Sumvyj. ## COMMITTEE ON REGIONAL PLAN OF NEW YORKAND ITS ENVIRONS 1.30 EAST 22D STREET,NEW YORK CITY DwIcHTW.MokROW FREDERIE A.DELANo,Chairman FRANKL PoLK RoBERT W.DEFoREST Jos H FiKLEY FREDERIc B.PRATT Lawsox PuRDY Joas M.GLExX Whatever poisesses an unusual quality tendsthereby to take on a special value.Even if itbe "dirt-common"and useless in other respects,a thing which has a desired quality tha

FAQs

Which islands does the document focus on, and why are they singled out?

It focuses on Welfare Island, Ward's Island, and Randall's Island, arguing they deserve early attention because they present opportunities for immediate planning and potential reallocation before other work is completed.

What problem does the document identify with the existing way the islands are used?

It criticizes the long practice of parceling the islands among different departments without considering the whole situation, calling it a habit that should not continue.

How does the committee frame the islands’ value for city planning?

The islands’ value is framed through their unique isolation from the city’s traffic network, their city ownership, their central position, and their potential public needs and housing considerations for inmates.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Ezra