Come Get Creative at Four Freedoms Park

September 20, 2017

Howard Axel

Four Freedoms Park Conservancy is excited to update our Roosevelt Island neighbors about our programs and events.

Four Freedoms Park Conservancy is the non-profit organization responsible for Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms State Park under a cooperative agreement with the New York State Parks Department. The Conservancy’s mission is to operate and maintain this public space and to honor the legacy of President Roosevelt’s four freedoms through educational and public initiatives.

During the last school year, the Conservancy’s educational programs hosted a record number of students from schools across the five boroughs and beyond. We look forward to welcoming even more school groups during the fall of 2017. Conservancy staff provides guided field trips to students that explore the meaning and legacy of the four freedoms: freedom of speech and expression; freedom of worship; freedom from want; and freedom from fear.

Film Project

In July and August, the Conservancy screened their short documentary, Echoes of History, for the Roosevelt Island community with assistance from the Roosevelt Island Senior Association (RISA) and RIOC. This short film, which was produced during the summer of 2016, features older New Yorkers sharing their recollections of the Roosevelt administration. Because of the film’s success, the Conservancy continued the production of its documentary project this summer. This year’s short film, produced by three high school interns from Studio in a School’s Bloomberg Arts & Culture Internship Program, focuses on freedom from fear and how a younger generation can find their voice in civic discussion today. Stay tuned for more information about screenings of the 2017 short documentary on Roosevelt Island this winter.

Imagination Playground

We are excited to bring back our popular Imagination Playground and Uni Project on September 16 and 17 and October 14 and 15 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Imagination Playground encourages children of all ages to channel their inner Louis Kahn by using oversized architectural blocks to transform the park into a personalized playground. Young visitors can also take advantage of learning opportunities provided by Uni Project, including a pop-up reading room featuring a curated collection of books.

Kite Flight for Peace

Every year, people around the world celebrate the United Nation’s International Peace Day as a chance to come together and uphold the ideals of peace and unity. In honor of this day, FDR Four Freedoms Park will host its third annual Kite Flight for Peace celebration on September 23. Visitors of all ages are invited to the park to design and fly kites that represent their own personal conceptions of peace and freedom. Free kite-making workshops will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with materials provided on-site. Registration is recommended; visit our website (www.fdrfourfreedomspark.org) to learn more. A kite-flying demonstration will be held that same afternoon from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Stop by for a day of fun and flight!

Fall Hours

As a reminder, starting on October 1, the park is open six days a week (closed on Tuesdays) from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Information about events and the park can be found on our website at www.fdrfourfreedomspark.org. We hope that you stop by to experience the park’s gorgeous grounds and peaceful atmosphere. Please visit soon, and often!