Mayor Adams Unveils Restored Soccer Fields on Randall’s Island After Making $5 Million Investment

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks) Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa, and the Randall’s Island Park Alliance today announced the re-opening of four restored soccer fields at Randall’s Island Park. Funded with a $5 million city capital investment by Mayor Adams, the restoration project transforms the former site of the Randall’s Island Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center (HERRC) that once served the city’s migrant population with new synthetic turf and pathways — fully revitalizing the area to serve New Yorkers and the surrounding community.

“Today marks yet another a milestone in demonstrating the immense progress we have achieved in turning the corner on an unprecedented humanitarian effort, and delivering this vital public space back to the community. Randall’s Island Park is a premier destination for sports and recreation, and the restoration of these highly used fields marks the return of this important city resource. I’m proud to reopen these restored soccer fields with $5 million in improvements for all to use,” said Mayor Eric Adams. “While the Randall’s Island Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center was key to helping manage the unprecedented migrant crisis and care for more than 240,200 migrants — over 25,000 of whom were sheltered at this one site alone — we have effectively managed our operations and helped more than 87 percent of asylum seekers take the next steps towards lives of self-sufficiency. Now, thanks to the partnership of NYC Parks and the Randall’s Island Park Alliance, we are bringing this park back to life, allowing it to serve a new role where children and families can gather, play, and create lasting memories.”

“Parks and open spaces are the heart of our communities — places where people come together to play, connect, and recharge — and we’re so proud to welcome New Yorkers back to these beautifully restored soccer fields on Randall’s Island,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Rodriguez-Rosa. “Thanks to Mayor Adams’ investment and our partnership with the Randall’s Island Park Alliance, these new fields will once again serve tens of thousands of athletes, families, and visitors each year. This project is a powerful reminder of how our city continues to transform and reinvest in spaces that support recreation and connection for all New Yorkers."

“We are thrilled to reopen these fields and welcome back kids and sports leagues in time for the fall season,” said Deborah Maher, president, Randall's Island Park Alliance. “These fields serve tens of thousands of children each year and act as a recreational space for kids to get outdoors and play, one of the many reasons why Randall's Island Park is a vital resource for our city. As an island connecting three boroughs, the park serves more than 4 million visitors a year from near and far. We appreciate the partnership of Mayor Adams and NYC Parks in restoring these fields and look forward to continued collaboration on future improvements to Randall’s Island Park.”

Thanks to the $5 million investment by the Adams administration, the fields have been outfitted with brand-new goals to enhance the playing experience for athletes of all ages. Adjacent to the fields, picnic areas and lawns were also restored this past spring by the Randall’s Island Park Alliance and NYC Parks Maintenance and Operations.

The restoration of soccer fields 82, 83, 84, and 85 was completed by William A. Gross Associates under a NYC Parks citywide services contract. As part of the extensive work, crews removed the old turf and repaired worn pathways and fixed fences. The project also included re-grading and leveling the subsurface to create a safer and more durable foundation for play, followed by the installation of new, state-of-the-art synthetic turf designed to withstand heavy use while reducing long-term upkeep.

The new fully restored field has officially been reopened to the public. The HERRC on Randall’s Island opened in August 2023 and closed at the end of February 2025 and helped provided shelter to over 25,500 asylum seekers.

Since the first asylum seekers arrived in the spring of 2022, New York City has continued to focus on the support needed to help migrants take their next steps towards self-sufficiency. The city’s Asylum Application Help Center  — a first-in-the-nation entity — helped complete more than 140,000 applications for work authorization, Temporary Protected Status, and asylum. New York City Department of Small Business Services and their workforce development teams have connected this population to hundreds of job opportunities, and the administration’s case management and resettlement teams — in conjunction with teams across multiple city agencies — continue to find creative ways to assist recent arrivals through direct outreach, resource fairs, and onsite English as a second language courses at shelters, to name a few examples.

Over 90 percent of eligible adults in the city’s care either have or have applied for work authorization thanks to the Adams administration’s efforts. The city has also purchased more than 67,200 tickets to help migrants reach their preferred destinations and help reduce long-term costs for New York City taxpayers. Additionally, staff have conducted nearly 1 million case management sessions with migrants, dedicated to helping them identify self-sufficient pathways out of city shelter, in addition to implementing the city’s 30- and 60-day notice policies.

As a result, more than 208,200 migrants who requested services from the city in the last three years have taken the next steps in their journeys towards self-sufficiency. Since intensive case management services began in October 2023, 71 percent more families with children in humanitarian relief centers each week have taken their next steps. Finally, Mayor Adams successfully achieved more than $7.1 billion in asylum seeker savings over three fiscal years.

###