RIOC Announces Opening of New Park, Commons East

Roosevelt Island, NY (November 20, 2025) – The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC), state and city officials, and leaders from Hudson and Related Companies cut the ribbon on Commons East, Roosevelt Island’s newest park nestled between 460 and 430 Main Street on the island’s east side. The new park includes a dog run, replacing the temporary run currently located in Firefighters Field, swings, picnic areas, and beautifully landscaped green spaces, all open to the general public.

“We’re excited to open the island’s newest park, Commons East, a beautiful new addition to our picturesque community,” said Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation President B.J. Jones. “From the swings along Main Street to the sweeping views of Queens and the East River, Commons East offers residents and visitors yet another inviting space to relax, gather, and experience the best of what our island has to offer. Thank you to Hudson and Related, and RIOC’s grounds team for creating and maintaining this beautiful park, and welcome to our neighbors and canine friends who will be enjoying it!”

“The opening of Commons East marks the end of nearly 30 years of hard work and collaboration with our partners to build a thriving neighborhood on Roosevelt Island,” said Frank Monterisi, Executive Vice President at Related Companies. “What started as 19 acres of undeveloped land is now a highly sought-after community in New York, complete with another amazing public, open space for residents and visitors to enjoy for generations to come. Thank you to Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation, Hudson Companies, Memorial Sloan Kettering and Wells Fargo for bringing this vision to life.”

“Commons East builds on the success of Commons West, offering multi-use park spaces that encourage both residents and visitors to experience Roosevelt Island fully and spend more time outdoors,” said Jordan Camina, Project Manager at Hudson Companies. “We’re grateful to our partners for the dedicated work that went into elevating Southtown and to the residents for their trust in us to deliver a neighborhood they can take pride in.”

“The new Riverwalk Commons Park will provide a verdant sequence of intimate gathering spaces for the community to enjoy – in a grand procession linking with the river’s edge. A unique public garden space for Roosevelt Island residents,” said Aaron Booher, Landscape Architect at Future Green.

“Congratulations to B.J. Jones and the RIOC Team on the opening of yet another green space on Roosevelt Island,” said State Senator Liz Krueger. “We know many of our 2 and 4-legged constituents have been eagerly anticipating a visit to the Dog Park—may they each experience enjoyable and relaxing times in this outdoor public space!” 

“Roosevelt Island continues to grow as a vibrant, family-friendly neighborhood, and the debut of Commons East is a welcome addition,” said State Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright. “I applaud B.J. Jones and RIOC for bringing forward a green space that encourages connection, play, and wellness for residents of all ages—including our dogs. This park will strengthen the fabric of daily life on the island.”

The opening of Commons East marks the culmination of the Roosevelt Island’s Southtown development, which began in the late 1990s as a joint venture between the Hudson and Related Companies. As originally conceived in the island’s 1969 Master Plan, Southtown includes 9 residential buildings with around 2,000 residential units, covering approximately 19 acres. The final building in the development, Riverwalk Heights at 430 Main Street, opened in early 2025, and the opening of Commons East marks the conclusion of the project, spanning multiple decades. As part of Southtown’s development plan, two large public spaces were conceived: Commons West, which first opened to the public in 2006, and Commons East.

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About the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC):

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) was created in 1984 by the State of New York as a public benefit corporation with a mission to plan, design, develop, operate, and maintain Roosevelt Island. With a focus on innovative and environmentally friendly solutions, RIOC is committed to providing services that enhance the island's residential community. RIOC manages the island’s roads, parks, buildings, sports facility, and public transportation—including the iconic aerial tramway. Additionally, RIOC operates a Public Safety Department that helps maintain a safe and secure environment for residents, employees, business owners, and visitors.

About Hudson Companies:

Hudson is one of New York City’s preeminent housing developers, with a 37-year track record of delivering high-quality residential and mixed-use projects across all five boroughs. To date, Hudson has completed over 9,900 residential units and nearly 400,000 square feet of commercial space, including more than 100 neighborhood retail stores, representing over $3.6 billion in total development. Hudson’s portfolio spans a broad range of project types and contexts – from townhouses and adaptive reuse to high-rise towers and city-owned retail corridors. Hudson has successfully developed market-rate, mixed-income, and fully affordable housing, often in combination with commercial spaces, community facilities, and government uses. To learn more, visit 

About Related Companies:

Related Companies is a global real estate and lifestyle company defined by innovation and the most prominent privately-owned real estate firm in the United States. Formed over 50 years ago, Related is one of the largest private owners and preservationists of affordable housing in the U.S. and a fully integrated, highly diversified industry leader with experience in virtually every aspect of development, acquisition, management, finance, marketing, and sales. Headquartered in New York City, Related has offices and major developments in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Texas, Washington, D.C., and London and boasts a team of approximately 4,000 professionals. With over $70 billion in assets owned or under development including the 28-acre Hudson Yards neighborhood on Manhattan’s West Side, Deutsche Bank Center at Columbus Circle and The 78 in Chicago. Related was named to Fast Company Magazine’s list of the 50 Most Innovative Companies in the World. For more information about Related, please visit .

Press Contacts:

Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC)

Bryant Daniels

Assistant Vice President, Communications & Government Affairs

347-398-4700

Hudson Companies

Oliver Sampson

617-899-6429

Related Companies