New York City Mayor Eric Adams, alongside NYC Parks Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa and the Randall’s Island Park Alliance, has announced the reopening of four newly restored soccer fields at Randall’s Island Park in Manhattan. The $5 million project, funded through a city capital investment, transforms the former site of the Randall’s Island Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center into a recreational space with synthetic turf fields and improved pedestrian pathways.
The restoration focused on soccer fields 82, 83, 84, and 85, and was completed by William A. Gross Associates through a citywide services contract with NYC Parks. Crews removed the old turf, repaired fencing and pathways, re-graded the playing surfaces, and installed new synthetic turf engineered for durability and reduced maintenance. The fields now include new goal posts, and nearby picnic areas and lawns were also upgraded earlier this year in collaboration with NYC Parks Maintenance and Operations and the Randall’s Island Park Alliance.
Athletic field at Randall’s Island, via NYC Parks.
The site previously served as the city’s largest Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center, operating from August 2023 to February 2025 and providing shelter to over 25,500 asylum seekers. Since then, the city has reported that more than 87 percent of migrants have moved out of shelters, supported by citywide services that include legal assistance, job connections, and resettlement resources. The reestablishment of the fields reflects a return of the space to public recreational use.
Randall’s Island is accessible via multiple transit options. The nearest subway stations include the 125th Street station served by the 4, 5, and 6 trains in Manhattan, and the 125th Street station served by the Metro-North Railroad. Pedestrian access to the island is available via the RFK (Triborough) Bridge.
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