Randall’s Island Park Alliance, Inc. (RIPA), formerly Randall’s Island Sports Foundation, Inc., was founded in 1992 as a public-private partnership to work on behalf of Randall’s Island Park, located in the East River between East Harlem, the South Bronx and Astoria, Queens. In May 2010, RIPA finished rebuilding over 60 new athletic playing fields. Randall’s Island Park now has more than half of all the athletic fields in Manhattan, which will vastly increase the amount of playing time available for all New Yorkers. RIPA is working closely with the City and local community-based organizations to ensure that all the children of New York are guaranteed a much needed place to play.

Randall’s Island Park is home to Icahn Stadium, a world-class track & field facility, which is the only one of its kind in North America capable of hosting local, regional and national events. Icahn Stadium offers a full standard 400-meter Mondo running track flanked by 5,000 covered spectator seats overlooking the East River. Within the Icahn Stadium complex, there is a premier turf soccer field with bleachers for spectator events.

In summer 2009, RIPA, working together with Sportime, unveiled a new $16 million world-class tennis center. The Sportime Tennis Center, which is the largest and finest tennis facility to open in NYC in the past 30 years, has 20 state-of-the-art courts. The intimate complex provides a great venue for watching and playing tennis. Our partnership with Sportime extends into provision of top quality professional instruction to local children, which has included a tennis clinic taught by Serena Williams and other great tennis professionals. Randall’s Island Park is also home to the Randall’s Island Golf Center, which has been newly renovated and has a large grass tee driving range, two miniature golf courses, batting cages and beer garden. The Golf Center works with RIPA to provide free resources to local children.

In addition to developing world-class sports facilities, RIPA is devoted to restoring the island’s natural environment. In spring 2008, the restoration of the Little Hell Gate salt marsh and freshwater wetlands was completed. The $5 million project restored 9 acres of Randall’s Islands salt marsh and wetlands and is now improving water quality and providing wildlife habitat. A new boardwalk also connects to roughly a mile of shoreline pedestrian and bicycle paths, with interpretive signage and increased access to waterfront resources and park facilities. Pathway under the Hell Gate Bridge which will provide another connection to the Bronx is in the process of being completed.

Today RIPA continues to work toward developing and maintaining Randall’s Island Park, and sponsoring community-linked programs for children so that all New Yorkers have the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors without leaving the City.