City officials are working on a plan to turn Rikers Island into a green space by the end of 2026. This plan is being pushed forward by Councilmembers Sandy Nurse and Lincoln Restler. Mayor Eric Adams has been hesitant about the renewable energy plans for the island, and the city is behind schedule on closing the jails on Rikers Island by August 2027.
The new jails that are meant to replace those on Rikers Island are also delayed. The jail in Downtown Brooklyn is set to be completed in 2029, the lockup in The Bronx in 2031, and the jail in Queens in 2032. There is no timeline for the new jail in lower Manhattan as the city is struggling to find a design firm.
In the past, there have been ideas about what to do with Rikers Island, such as building affordable housing or a park, or expanding LaGuardia Airport. However, Nurse believes that the focus should be on creating a green space on the island. She wants to develop a master plan for Renewable Rikers, which includes building a wastewater treatment plant, renewable energy generation and storage, and off-shore converter stations.
Environmental activists support this bill, seeing it as an opportunity to create environmental progress, green jobs, and social justice. However, the closure of Rikers Island jails is dependent on reducing the jail population, which is currently higher than the target number.
Nurse is optimistic that the master plan bill will help move the initiative forward. She believes that a concrete plan is needed to ensure that the island is used properly once the jails are closed. The bill would need to be signed by Mayor Adams or passed by a two-thirds majority of the Council to become law.
Overall, the focus is on transforming Rikers Island into a green space that benefits the city of New York. With the master plan in place, there is hope that the island can become a model of environmental progress and social justice.