Randall's Island Park

Very nice up kept fields, and play areas. If you happen to be staying at any events near here, the parking (which is free) is very nice and close. The only downside is that it is right near a sewage treatment facility so everything smells really, really, really bad. They have nice walking and biking trails for exercise, and they stretch for many miles. All in all, the upkeep is wonderful and I would recommend this park to anyone needing to stretch their legs while in the five burrows or to those who play sports. See for yourself!

Nice park but very far from the city and difficult to get to. The M35 is very slow and infrequent and is usually faster to walk. The bridge to get to the island is not very nice as it is next a very loud busy highway. Decently clean and safe.

A strange place in nyc. Accessible from Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan, I think there are now 6 pedestrian bridges that will get you onto the island. this island has a displaced community on it, with some tents scattered around the Manhattan bridge entrance. There are also indoor and outdoor tennis and pickleball courts, a variety of outdoor fields, and a few other government and assistance buildings for people in need. It’s a beautiful area combining natural and urban spaces (like most of nyc). Great to walk around on a sunny day. It can be a little creepy to go alone in winter because the island was rather desolate. Probably gets busier in the spring/summer when more sports are in season.

It was easy to get to our seeds the selection was great They ran out of popcorn but they had other things to select from

We went there for the Cirque du Soleil on a Saturday, place packed with people and puppies, either coming to the show, or going to the teen track competitions, or just hanging around. Considering the volume of people and traffic flow. The staffs or security people there were doing their best to get people in and out as efficiently as possible. Big thanks to them! A great recreation park with flexibility and energy.

It's towards Costco, on the east River. Need to cross this bridge over to the island. Bridge view and scene is nice... But the moment I reach the island park, gives me the not-safe vibe. Trash, gatherings (not the kind at central park) and most importantly, 3 police cars and officers were there, standby with lights all lit up, 1 cop car was patrolling as well. Certainly don't see that in any other NYC parks. Not recommended. Too bad. Nice place but safety concerns.

Awesome 👌🏾 place to be in peace and enjoy differents sports

This place is very beautiful and in my opinion the best way to get around and enjoy its beauty is on a bike. Weather you bring your own or rent a city bike at the entrance. The only down side was the lock of drink/food places, it looks like they currently have this part of the park under construction. An alternative would be to bring your own drinks/food. My boys and I had a great time riding the city bikes all around and enjoyed the beautiful views very much.

The annual Indigenous Peoples Day (formerly Columbus Day) Weekend Celebration was held on October 12-13, 2024 at Randall's Island's Icahn Stadium. Native Americans from the United States, the Islands & many other places come together to celebrate their culture, traditions & legacy through dance, song, spoken word, etc. Here you'll see individuals in their traditional dress. There are a variety of stands selling beautiful Native clothing, accessories, jewelry, stones & crystals, furniture & other items & services. There are a variety of food stands selling delicious & traditional food items. I simply cannot leave without having the venison sausage & buffalo chili. I do miss the fried snake nuggets though. If you're in the mood for traditional Puerto Rican food they have that too. It is a wonderful must see weekend celebration that is not only spiritual but educational, entertaining & joyful. It's free to the public & the Island is accessible from The Bronx & Manhattan.

I went to Randall's Island this weekend of PokemonGo Fest. Niantic chose the park as the location for its New York City in-person event for players. This was my first time at Randall's Island. You can get to the park by car via the RFK Triborough Bridge or public transportation (M35 bus). Sometimes, events set up ferry rides. I took a ferry from E 35th Street terminal to the island. Randall's Island Park is beautiful, tranquil, nice paths for walking/jogging/biking, and well-maintained grounds. I never saw these views of Manhattan, the Bronx, and the East River. On the paths, there are giant rocks where you can sit and rest whenever you need; lots of people took a break on these rocks this weekend. Coming from Manhattan and the ferry dock, I started from the South part of the park. To get from the South part of the park to the North side, you walk under a bridge path - which is kind of the reminder that you are still in NYC. I hope to return to Randall's Island in the future to see what it's like normally and enjoy what the park has to offer.

Randall's Island Park feels like an escape from the hectic city life. I came here to relax on a Sunday afternoon. Walking over the bridge from Manhattan and Randall's is actually quite fun as you have a nice view of the Harlem River. The park has so many amenities. There are tennis courts,cricket and soccer field, golf course, gardens, playgrounds, trails for biking, running, and jogging, etc.There is just so much to do. Overall, 5 stars.

I have never been to Randall's Island and went specifically for the Vegandale festival. I was told that there was no parking on the island (which wasn't exactly true), so we parked in a garage in Queens on the other side of the bridge and took an Uber to the island. That was probably best considering the amount of people that were going to the same place. The festival itself had a big turnout which created extremely long lines. We brought along chairs which we used while waiting in the lines (cheat code). There was a live DJ that performed during the festival and many vegan food options. The bathroom situation was expected. I don't think there is anyone that actually enjoys a portapotty, but I desperately try not to use them. They had an attendant working his hardest to keep up with the many portas. So many toilets, not enough water : ( I tried to avoid drinking all day so that I wouldn't have to go, but I eventually gave in. After the festival ended, we walked across the Hell Gate Pathway back to Queens since there were too many people leaving the park at the same time and not enough Ubers. At night, the park is absolutely beautiful and has picture perfect views. Part of the trails could be better lit but still a great attraction.

This is such a big and beautiful park. I came during an event weekend where they took up the majority of the park. There is lots of open space for you to sit and enjoy your day.

Rolled up to Randall's for the Vegandale shindig, expecting a carpark myth to bust my mood--turned out, we could park. Dodged that bullet with a savvy Queens garage stash and an Uber hop. The fest was packed to the gills, making queues a drag, but chairs were our sneaky game-changer. Vegan eats rocked, live tunes pumped up the vibe, and yeah, portapotties are a necessary evil. Post-festival, trekked back to Queens via Hell Gate--stunning night views, dimly lit paths and all.

I came here for the Vegandale festival. It's convenient to get to from Harlem either by walking across the bridge at 124th street or taking the M35 train. The grass areas were very well maintained. Nice views of the city by the water. Definitely a great place to get some fresh air and sunshine when you want to escape the city.

It's been a while since I did a run on Randalls Island, and especially in the winter I don't venture over here too often in the freezing weather of the season. Yet, on a random beautiful 55 degree winter day I had to come out for the Cupid's Chase 5K and enjoy a race along the pathways by the water with terrific views. The park is still very well maintained, clean, and a hidden gem in plain sight. It's a great place for athletes and weekend warriors to participate in athletics from soccer to running to horseback riding, and those who want to fish or just picnic during warmer weather. Oh, and it's great for bicyclists too. As you enter the park off the Wards Island Bridge there is a free work station with tools for bike maintainence.

Perfect for an afternoon bike ride, limited food options and only 2 Citi bike docks but very well maintained grounds

I absolutely love it here! I come here a lot. If you're here on the weekends in the summer it gets very crowded. This is a popular spot for parties, barbecues and sports. I like to come here during the week or on weekends in the winter. There are a lot less people here during off hours. There are bikes available to rent, paved paths and fields to play sports on. There are always lots of runners, walkers and cyclists here. I recommend this place if you're looking for a spacious park.

This review is for the vegan festival, Vegandale that happened over this weekend. I've actually never been to Randall's Island so I was happy to have ventured out and discovered this little island in Harlem. I'm no vegan, but I am a foodie so nothing is off limits. I love food! Tickets were $10 to attend the festival which had about 200 food vendors from all the world. It was actually a great turn out with over 10k+ people expected to attend. The down side to that many people were the extremely long lines. I waited in a line for over an hour just to get a virgin Pina colada. I missed out on a lot of vendors because the lines were ridiculously too long. I spent more time on the lines trying to get food than I did actually eating. They had 3 time slots. Early bird tickets which started from 11am, 1pm tickets, and 3pm tickets. I would highly suggest purchasing the early bird tickets and arriving as soon as the event starts because it was truly not as enjoyable as I had hoped it was going to be due to the over crowding. The music, the energy, and the vibe was dope! Just arrive early! IG: @Soooomuchfun

Randall's Island Park There's a lot of things going on in the park. There's ball field's and a riding academy, golf and other sports and entertainment activities. I did do some research and you should check to see what's available before you go. I find it a nice place to walk around just for the exercise. There's a cool breeze off the water and the air feels a little fresher. I haven't been to any events here. It's easy to get to from my apartment so it would be convenient to attend when the occasion arises. I'd like to go to the driving range and see if I retained any of my golf skills! If you're in the area I suggest you visit this park after you check a schedule of current activities. It gets busy in the summer.

This is a very nice park in Queens! Large, spacious. There is a new, neat walking trail underneath Hell Gate Bridge. Tons of opportunity to shoot photos of the Hell Gate Bridge and the RFK bridge. Lots of parking, tons of softball, baseball, and soccer fields. Bike paths, skating paths, water views. Great getaway in the city! The Astoria side is nice, but this side is nicer.

Big park on an island. It just can be annoying getting there from off it. Randall's Island Park pretty much takes up the entire area of the land that's between Manhattan and Queens. Maybe get there by walking across a bridge. The bus is another option. Above it is the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge. It spans the entire island. The bridge first gets here when it crosses the East River from Astoria to the southern part of the island. It's above it, and there's a walkway for pedestrians who don't care that it's a very long bridge. Then it leaves the island on the north side. It goes to Harlem. The bridge is too long for most people. Another option is the Ward's Island Bridge. This pedestrian bridge goes from Manhattan to the western part of the island. Along the west side is a path that has some good views of Manhattan and the Bronx. There's many athletic facilities. Most notable many baseball diamonds. There's also a stadium. It sure is a nice park with lots to do and see around it. Many athletic events and concerts go on. The access unfortunately is simply terrible.

I love this park ! I used to come here to walk my dog, now because of the COVID-19 I am running here. It's an amazing park. There many ways to come here , even driving. If you coming here, come early. People come here to run , to eat, fishing , to play sports and many other things. Flowers are blooming so is a beautiful spot to take pictures. Kids friendly environment and safe.

I have been to Randall's island a few times now, and each time the grounds have been immaculate. Whether you are hear to bike, yoga, for a baseball game or to BBQ; its surroundings are really nice. The bathrooms, for a public park, are surprisingly VERY clean. The cleanest bathroom I used outside of my own home. Upon entering the bathroom smelled pleasant and clean. Supplies like toilet paper and hand soap were plentiful. Looking to make your way over to Astoria? You can access the path to the RFK bridge here. I personally parked over by 132st street (right by the Bronx Brewery) and made my way through Randall's Island Park to the tunnel. Be forewarned, take this path if you're ok with lots of walking. Once across in Astoria, grab some delicious Greek food or a pastry to celebrate your hike across. Too tired to walk back? Rent a citi bike from 31st and Hoyt Avenue to take back across to Randall's island, and to your car. (Remember we parked by the brewery) Theres a citi bike drop off on willow Ave and 133rd st. Enjoy!

Not to be confused with Randy Island Park, which is much hornier, really. This is a gorgeous park that is physically underneath the amazing RFK Bridge, which is one of my fave bridges in NYC and the country. The RFK was known by many as the Triboro as it was for many years. This is technically part of Queens, but it's right here sandwiched between three great boroughs, and it's pretty amazing. The views are amazing from here too. You can't really get better than this park. It was renovated about 10 years ago, and it's technically part of Manhattan, but really is a gem for all three boroughs to enjoy, and yet an entity unto itself, as it doesn't seem to belong to any of them.

Great spot for running and biking trails or going for a simple walk. For a good chunk of this pandemic, I have been running in Central Park, which has been become pretty congested. For the most part, especially in the early morning hours, there are very few folks roaming around on Randall's Island. I think that Randall's will now be my go-to, instead of Central Park, for my early morning cardio.

The parks can try and do a better job being mindful and setting ground rules when the events are booked. It is really terrible that this is even allowed. There should be a limit of how loud they should be allowed to play. It is so loud, it can be heard in parts of Queens Astoria.

Beautiful park to walk around with family and dog in the Spring and Fall. There is a concession area to purchase food as needed. Can utilize fields for soccer, baseball, or even some ultimate frisbee. Know some families bring barbecue in the summer as well for outings. All in all. Decent park in the middle of the city. Why a 4? Pretty hard to get to from the city and restroom facilities are nonexistent.

A huge park nestled between Manhattan, Bronx, and Queens. There are a hundred picture worthy panoramas here. I'd recommend walking the RFK bridge.

Amazing park for walking. I didn't realize when I took a walk here that I had been here years ago with my son for a track meet. So clean, well maintained, and with a lot of great scenery and views along the walkway.

Randall's Island has been a favorite spot of mine throughout my time in East Harlem. It is essentially a large park full of walking and bike paths, with a plethora of floral gardens, and the added value of a salt marsh and sweeping views of the East River, the Upper East Side and Queens. There is what I understand to be a psychiatric hospital, a homeless shelter, and a wastewater treatment facility on the island, but these somehow do not significantly detract from the overall park experience. You can enter the park along a footbridge at 102nd Street and East End Avenue which crosses the east river. Once you have crossed, if you turn right toward the southwest end (Ward's Island) there are picnic and barbecue areas and abuts a number of soccer fields; this can be to be the most crowded portion of the park. If you turn left and travel to the north you can easily find peace and quiet along sprawling lawns, a salt marsh, and more East River views. One you cross a small bridge over a salt marsh, you reach the upper portion (Randall's Island). There you'll find has ICahn Stadium, which hosts the occasional track and field event, a large grassy field which hosts a handful of concerts in the summer but is otherwise quiet, and a ferry pier. Further north of ICahn, and the far north edge of the park there is a golf driving range. As you move to the east, you find one of the few roads on the island, from which car traffic enters and exits the 125th St ramp/ RFK bridge. Parking fills up quickly and traffic enforcement makes very regular rounds. To the east of the road are bike and walking trails that run under the Hell Gate Bridge. It is also possible to enter of leave the park on foot or by bike over the RFK bridge to Astoria through a ramp in the middle of the park. The views from the bridge are pretty epic, which makes it worth doing if you have the time.

Enjoyed this park on this days's visit . It has so much things to offer. The weather cooperated too that made me love the park and planned to a return. I heard that it is recently renovated. Reason: 1. It has a good view of the East river, the city and Astoria, Queens. I can't believe that it is just across from Astoria Park and the FDR drive. What's good about the place is that it has walk path/ pedestrian walkway coming from/to these places- one from Astoria(31st St) , one at 103rd St and I believe there's one also at 125th St. 2. The playing fields whether the open or the fenced fields are vast, clean and maintained. On this Saturday afternoon, lots of playing teams were either practicing or playing their sports. It was nice watching them while doing their specialties. I think I saw more than 5 sports fields during my walk along the river. 3. The walk along the river experience made my day. I made 12,454 steps . I passed many interesting things. Starting with the view of the Hell gate and RFK bridge , to different sports fields , to the lower East side view, to the pedestrian path( there is an exhibition during the day at 103rd St) ) , to the horse stables , to the cool view of Water taxi 's and other cruise liners and down to the water edge garden, it was simply an amazing things to watch and see. If it is not for possible rain forecasted during the walk, I maybe able to reach up to 135th St. I turned around after the garden as I wasn't ready to get wet. There is a shuttle service at different stops( if you get tired for the adventure ) to bring you to your designated point. 4. There are designated lanes for walkers, joggers, runners, rollerbladers and cycles. 5. It has free parking lot on each designated fields. Make sure to look on the map before deciding where to park your car (if coming by car) to be near to your destination. 6. Children's playground is within reach from the entrance, next to the Urban Farm and rest area. There was a festival during my visit and seemed the children has been enjoying themselves. 7. There are BBQ ing and picnicking spots. I see a group brought their own grill and they got a good view of the river. 8. There is a concession stand in the middle part of the park selling your regular food fare. The central restroom area is next to it. 8. There are local buses that pass and stop by at this park if you are thinking of commuting. Consider though the travel time that you may incur. 9. If you are crossing the bridge, the downside of coming here is the toll fare. I was charge $8.50 coming from Queens. There was no charge going back. A good place to enjoy what you love to do with the family , friends or with yourself.

Great trails for biking and running, all smooth and well lit. Best way to access the park is via the pedestrian bridge on East 102 street. On the other side of the football bridge is a free bike service station with air pump and assorted tools if you need. Playgrounds, sports fields, and East river fishing spots galore.

Plenty of soccer and baseball/softball fields, plus the Icahn Stadium, always busy with track meets. The park itself is just ok, but it deserves 4 stars because of the space and opportunity it gives New Yorkers to play sports.

Offers lovely scenic views of some of the city's bridges. I recently drove there on a Saturday morning to enjoy their annual Cherry Blossom Festival. Parking was rough, but that is only because the island hosts a numbers of youth sporting leagues and on a Saturday morning, they are at their peak. Parking freed up as the day went on though, with a constant flow of people leaving in the late morning/early afternoon. The Festival was great for kids. It was FREE and there were lots of activities for the kiddies. There was live music playing as well. I would recommend anyone take a stroll around the island on any given day, but events like these on a nice day make the trip a must.

I've been here a few times. I have participated in races that bring us near the water. Beautiful scenery. We usually start in stadium and finish inside. I'm assuming that because of covid 19. We couldn't go inside. That's fine. They had the bathrooms under bleachers open. So we were able to use them. I don't know if that is something they do everyday or just for this event. Today turned out pretty nice. It wasn't cold or very hot. Usually we run up and then back down to stadium. This time they had us go all the way around. Pass the plant that I thought was a jail. Nope. My leg was hurting so I couldn't run anymore but I kept walking. They had picnic tables scattered around. Soccer field was being used. If the bus didn't get so crowded on the way back to Harlem I would go every weekend to train. I'll be back in about 4 weeks.

We opted to walk the bridge for exercise and to save on the round trip toll fee of $15. Total round trip walk was 4.8 miles for us keeping in mind we found our resting spot near the Icahn Stadium. The views walking across the bridge are absolutely beautiful. I wasn't a fan of how close the walking space was on the bridge and there is also a section with a low railing....if you have kids please be mindful of this. Odd that most of the bridge has a safety gate but one section, the railing doesn't have it and the railing is pretty low. Other than that the island has several fields for group games, and other areas where you can find a spot to relax and have a picnic. The restrooms were open at the stadium and they were in pristine condition. I was NOT a fan of the waste treatment plant, occasionally there was a strong whiff of well let's just say unpleasant waste matter. The smell was only noticeable by the stadium.

Nice park, spacious and clean. A couple different parking lots and bus stops right off the bridge. A stadium there and lots of other grass area that's good for events or festivals too. LuminoCity Festival is worth it and gorgeous lights for Christmas season. Beautiful colours and adorable animals! I loved it and would recommend. Fun and cute place to go with family, friends, or dates. Good for kids and wheelchair assessable. Friendly staffs and they even have shuttle bus. There are a few booths at the exit for snacks, drinks, or other merchandise. Easy to navigate and not hard to find. Reasonable price and you can either purchase your ticket online or buy it there when you arrive. If you buy your ticket online just be aware that there's different time frames so that it's not packed. I personally prefer the last couple hours before there's less people.

For the second year in a row, I had the opportunity of volunteering for this years Mark Griffin, 7th Annual Play Rugby USA Cup held on Randall's Islands. This review is for the park itself as well as the competition that is Play Rugby USA. The driving directions to Randall's Island Park are fairly easy as are directions to your respective fields, well at least I had no problems finding our fields. You pay one toll, at least from the Manhattan-Bronx side, to get in and no toll on the return. These fields 70-75, where the event is played, are located directly under the span of the RFK Bridge, PKA Tri-Boro Bridge, directly next to the river. The fields to me seem vast and with the span of the bridge overhead and the river nearly surrounding these fields it adds to the already beautiful early morning, cool sunlit summer breezes..Ah, perfect! The grounds are astroturf and are very clean and well maintained. I've been told that Randall's Island Park has gone through a major renovation so I have no reference to the before, only the after. The bathroom area is located directly outside of our fields and on my first trip very early in the a.m., the bathroom was spotless. And on my second visit before heading off to work, the ladies room was exactly how I saw it earlier that morning. How is that possible with all of these people in the park? Either there's some really impressive maintanence upkeep or some really clean kids. There's a concession stand directly by the restroom area that sells your typical ball park fare at average prices. After a hard day of play and coaching Play Rugby USA feeds all the kids and volunteers well rounded healthy snacks plus a whole wheat PBandJ sandwich; so I had no time or willingness to try out the parks fare. There are 75 Rugby Teams in this competition consisting of Elementary and Middle School aged children. Uncertain what the count was but there had to be over 150-200 kids out that day competing for trophies in their divisions. My kiddie count might be off, but nonetheless all those kids were out there getting their Rugby on. With that many kids you think you would find a rambunctious set here and there, not with any of the groups that I interacted with. All were so respectful and well behaved for their years, which was a delight to experience. So I say, kudos Mark Griffin for quitting your day job to invest all of your time to a sport that I wish I had when I was in school. Thanks to Mark Griffin with his vision of a 'Better world Through Rugby' and his expanding network of organizations and supporters 'Developing Youth Through Rugby'. Thanks Mark Griffin for Play Rugby USA which teaches these kids respect, values and teamwork, amongst other things. And also a thank you to you and your team and supporters for requesting volunteers to assist as Pitch Managers and other areas and most importantly teaching me a new sport and instilling in me Rugby's motto of, 'Go Forward'! I am indeed happy that I initially volunteered for this event as it has given me a chance to experience and learn what so many others have experienced as well.

11/11/2017 for my son's soccer game! It was cold but nice view of Manhattan. Don't forget the number of your field number. I almost got lost.

I actually like this park. They've, and when I say "they" I mean the government, revamped, reconstructed, and given this park a FACE LIFT. I remember the days we saw creepy old men camping out in the woods. Well, they've relocated the campers elsewhere (I think Central Park) and have chopped down TOO much wood; they added cool, eccentric, artsy sculptures, and have used some space for community gardens. The gardens are my favorite! Do you live in the Upper East Side? If so, this park is super accessible for you-- with a pedestrian bridge on 103rd street that goes STRAIGHT from 103rd & FDR to Randall's Island Park. This is pretty ideal on a nice summer day. HOWEVER, this bridge is currently closed (again) for construction so don't try to venture over there now. I'm sure they'll open it again soon. HOWEVER (#2), once you can walk to this park you'll initially be filled with such JOY because it's seemingly a hidden gem where you can jog/yoga/picnic/walk/skip to your heart's content. BUT (and yes there's a "but"), this park is seemingly FULL of creepers lurking in the bushes. In all seriousness-- there's an all-male homeless shelter on the island and apparently they like to wander around the park staring at you instead of doing something productive. It's creepy and I assume quite dangerous too-- so I refuse to visit the park alone. Still an aesthetically appealing park though probably not the safest for a sole jogger. P.S. Don't review a park based on a damn concert you saw AT it. Doesn't make any sense. -__-

The huge issue with this... Is very painful to access to. Is the usual spot for music fest and makes everything more chaotic than usual. Governors ball, electric zoo, pinkic all this summer music fest are usually here.

We decided on an impromptu picnic after school to celebrate my 5 year old's birthday. Assuming there was something to do at Randall's, we decided to go there. A quick Google search later and we were at Scylla playground on Randall's Island. This cute little playground located next to Urban farm, has something for kids of all ages. There's a tire swing, infant/toddler swings and the elusive "big kids swings". Right next door, there's a sprinkler and lots of picnic tables with a few public grills nestled throughout. Directly in front, is a restroom and small parking area. The kids enthusiastically asked for a BBQ picnic next time which we will gladly oblige.

Growing up in Astoria, I often looked across the East River to this park and wondered what was on the other side. As a teenager, a friend and I walked over the RFK bridge (then the Triborough) to see what was on the other side. Since then, I have walked and driven over the bridge to see my nephew run in Icahn Stadium or to visit the driving range, and to visit Randall's Island Park. I was debating my ratings for this park. I'm giving it a very positive review, because it is a beautiful park. The views are amazing, and you can walk along the river. There are places where you can barbeque. There are also fields where people can play soccer. Once I even caught a Quidditch match!! There is a concession area where you can pick up food and drinks. It is a bit pricey, but not overly so. Unfortunately, there are a couple of negatives: One: it is not easy to get to Randall's Island Park. There is the Ward's Island Bridge (see previous review), which crosses from Manhattan. There is also the RFK Bridge, which is a toll bridge. I've seen a bus there, but I'm not sure where it originates from. Two: the park borders a sewage treatment plant (on the other side of the Hell Gate Bridge). Thankfully, the park is not downwind from the plant, but if you walk by the bridge you will notice the stench. It won't have you falling over retching, but it is unpleasant. Despite these two negatives, once you get there, the park is a great place, and if you hang out along the river, you could spend a wonderful afternoon there.

We scored some free tickets to the first Farm Borough concert, I don't like country, but these were free. As a concert venue, the event field is pretty good. It's expansive and in the city there really is no other place like it. However, when it rains it was easy to try and reenact Woodstock with the mud. The island is kind of a pain in the ass to get too and is not that nice. You can take a cab, or take the foot bridges. We took the 103rd street foot bridge. We were accosted only a couple times while walking thru Harlem, it was flat out scary at points, especially when people are yelling at you. We opted for cabs or ubers after that. They have a ferry but it only runs for special events, and for this one you had to buy the 3 day pass for $60, no thanks. Take note, uber is not allowed on the island after 9pm. It is fairly easy to get a lost walking around, which we did and wound up in a constant state of construction under bridges with poor signage, no sidewalks or run down gravel paths. The whole island is just kinda sketchy. with a few nice athletic fields thrown in and of course the Pysch ward. I think for me to come back here it would have to be one hell of a concert or event to make the trip.

What a fun place to play world cup soccer! That's what I did with a group of 100 kids. There's so much space, and you can choose whether you want a field with real or fake grass. You can play right under the bridge, and see the beautiful waters and tall buildings across the way. Btw, I was surprised by how clean the bathrooms were, so props to that!

This place is seriously so far away..... but good if you have a car! Or, you can opt to take public transportation which takes forever and a day. I've only experienced playing sports here - multiple courts with decent astroturf. Nice, wide open spaces for everything recreational. The bathroom is out of the way.... you basically have to walk around fences and what not to get there, but they are decent (no port-a-potties here). Overall a nice getaway for some outdoor fun.

Not a bad place to watch a concert, provided the weather is nice. I think this place would be an uncomfortable place to watch a concert in the rain as there is no covered area. We went to Randall's Island to watch Phish. Imagine thousands of unwashed hippies, smoking pot and running around barefooted under the pleasant summer sky. There was some good people watching, to be sure. Acoustics were actually pretty darned good, but I suppose that'd be specific to the band, not to the park. Getting there was super easy, just a trip on the 4 or 5, then a quick bus ride. The main negative of this place as a concert venue was the bathroom situation. Port-a-Potties aren't my favorite, and after the sun sets, the unlight bathroom area was super sketchy.

A bunch of us recently came here for Urban Mudder. I, myself, did not participate but I spent the day to watch two of my friends run and jump and break their ankles (okay, they ran and jumped but no bones were broken!). We ended up taking an Uber to and from Randall's Island. While the event did have a drop-off/pick-up point, it was difficult to find due to lack of signage. Also, you have to pay the toll to get here. I did see one bus that goes to the island from Harlem (the M35?!) but who wants to take that long ride? Whatever. I get it. It's a small island so how many transportation options do they really need? The park itself is okay. There are pretty water views along the path. The one thing that was constant was the stench of manure. Sometimes the smell would vanish, other times that's all you would smell! Overall, it's not a bad park by any means but definitely not one worth going out of the way for.

I work nearby so I enjoy coming here during my lunch break to take a brisk walk by the water. The breeze is a treat on a hot summer day. I welcome the sounds of jet skis and the children playing on the soccer and lacrosse fields. The parks department does an excellent job landscaping the area. There is a myriad of plants, trees, animals and birds to see when you visit. One of my favorite things on the island is the seasonal installation of art work near the 103rd street bridge and under the RFK. Come visit the urban farm or get a bite at the information center. Or bring your bike and fishing rods.

The Park is decent, has bathrooms that are relatively close to areas which have large crowds whom may have events or BBQ's. Staff comes around and does clean up often so the place stays clean. I would have an event here but in the summertime be sure to have your insect repellents and citronella candles.

A must see. Awesome artists, circus acts. Circus of Freaks, but in a good way. The skills they have make you wonder... how did you realize you could stretch your body in awkward positions or balance on a bowling ball or move like a kitty cat. All the performers are at the top of their game. The musicians and the woman that sings are stupendous. More time for applause should be given to them...only complaint didn't like the bus ride over and the approximately one hour wait and people on the bus said they waited even longer. Walked over the 103rd st bridge to subway when show was over.

The RIP is very nice park system hidden away from Craziness of triborough yet kept well maintained considering population only grow during the day only. Aside of many soccer and baseball fields, it offers great running / biking path that I LOVE (far more fun & healthier option than east river drive jogging path) The access tends to be hit and miss if coming from manhattan as pedestrian bridge was under construction this summer. But if you are reaching from queens this is a great place to visit, nice hill run over the triborough and you'd be at this great park. Still haven't figured out bridge tolls to get here as I always jog there, but prenty of parking spaces. I wouldn't I there at night as I doubt there's any cops around. Also crazy peeps housing is locate here, and you'd notice tall wall with security cams all around. I saw a complaint about smell but it's far better than Astoria side, most of wind hit Astoria and smell end up there. So suck it up manhattan winners.

Pleasantly surprised by the other* other** OTHER*** Manhattan island. Randall's Island should just be known as "The Fun Island!" Your first view of the island will be ... unimpressive. I didn't even know we were on it; I guess I expected more fanfare? A sign maybe? Oh well. I was a little turned off by the area we drove through on the way to the Golf Center: it looked like a retired police car depository? A lot of chain-link fencing, weaving roads, & dusty cars. The roadway seemed temporary; ONE WAY signs brought me this way & that way to find the parking lot. It felt a little sketch -- until we pulled into the parking lot & the lovely Golf Center opened up before us. But the rest of it seems like so much wasted space! The actual park looked very pretty from what we could see (it was dusk by the time we left the driving range). There was a large stage with flashing lights -- a nice looking place for concerts! I loved all of the well-lit baseball and soccer fields we passed. Who wouldn't want to play a softball game with a sparkling NYC skyline as the backdrop? We did a slow & thorough drive-by of all of the recreational areas. I really wanted to wander the grounds, but I'll probably save that for another sunny day. We can bring our gloves, and some picnic food, and tennis racquets, and some lawn chairs, and a soccer ball, and .... ... but forreal, Randall's Island Park is a really great place to go if you want to get some activity in your life. So easy to get to (seriously; I never realized how easy/close it is), and so many things to do once you get there! I think this may become our go-to summer spot. _________________________ * not Ellis (at least the part that doesn't belong to NJ) ** ... or Governors *** ... or Roosevelt

My prejudice still burbles away at remembering the garbage littered fields, the boulders placed as dividers along the parking lot waiting for someone to run into them while trying to catch in the outfield. I remember, on field 5, the garbage train parking alongside every single time we played. The aroma of refuse adding to the septic charm of the place. You would think that my dislike of Randall's Island park would lessen now that they've revamped the softball fields and provided amenities to people who happen to find themselves on this bit of land of the lost. It's far. It's smelly sometimes. But, to give credit to this place - it's a place to play sports. And because of the slight difficulty to get here, you can always get a field at a decent time. Maybe if I play a few more games here in the fall, I might change my mind about it. But for now, to me it still feels like the Park's Department's redheaded stepchild.

There are supposed to be 70 islands in NYC. Randall's island is just one of them. The entire park/island smells like poo. (because of the DEP waste water treatment plant there) So for that I have to give it 3 stars. The island is home to the New York City Fire Department's training academy, an NYC DEP Waste water Treatment Plant, homeless shelters, the Manhattan Psychiatric Center and other public facilities. The rest of the island, is city parkland. There is a ferry service to the island and public transportation pedestrian and bike bridges. The most accessible way onto the island is via public transportation is by bus. Right now the Pedestrian bridge is being worked on and is supposed to be open AFTER Memorial Day not on Memorial Day. (see pictures) The island has 5 miles of waterfront pathways and a green way under the Amtrak Hell's Gate Viaduct is almost completed and by 2013 a connection to the South Bronx Green way will be complete, which shall include additional waterfront pathway sections, a naturalized living shoreline, and further environmental restoration. It will eventually be nice and parts are already nice. We took pictures of the nice parts. It is a large island. It is 480 acres. There is still so much un-used space here and for NY that is rare. The NYC Department of Parks & Recreation approved a $1 million contract with Natural Currents Energy Services to build a hybrid renewable energy park. The park will combine solar, wind, and tidal energy and is expected to produce 200 kW of energy to power the island's facilities. The project will include a solar-powered marine research and information kiosk open to visitors of the island, expected to be completed in September 2012. I am having serious health issues and need to walk without being mowed down by out of control hill billy's aka transplants with no riding skills on bikes so I look for parks to walk in which is a part of my rehabilitation. There were not too many out of control bikers here when we went but many of the walking paths also have cars on them right now. There was a lot of trash and glass in certain areas of the park. I think one day it will be really nice. Right now it is still a work in progress. Trivia- there are supposed to be 70 islands in NYC. http://everything2.com/title/Islands+of+New+York+City About the islands of NYC-http://www.thirteen.org/metrofocus/2011/10/the-archipelago-of-new-york-city/

As New Yorkers we are privileged to have something like this at our disposal. Dozens of soccer and baseball fields and it's all for public use. I've been going for years to play soccer and now I take my son to play with his team. This generational passing of the torch is an amazing feeling. There are some cons however. Let's face it if you don't own a car, and even then you have to be whiling to pay a hefty toll, it's a pain in the you know what to go there. Bus service will take over an hour of you are lucky. This is the only reason why I'm giving it three stars. If it at least becomes free to drive to my review would be a solid 5 stars. Signing up to use a field is easier than you think but website is not intuitive, and can be tricky the first time.