Bridge to Ward’s Island
Wards Island Bridge, within view from atop Carl Shurz Park and the Gracie Mansion grounds, can be reached by taking a moderate stroll down the East River Esplanade along FDR Drive. Its bluish-green arched stateliness can’t be missed spanning the Harlem River complimenting vistas of the Triborough suspension bridge and Hellgate Bridge, whose abutments are firmly planted on the island’s eastern shores. Open to pedestrians only, this vertical-lift steel bridge was built in 1951 connecting the Upper East Side to the park’s stadium, psychiatric hospitals, and ball fields. First built in 1807 with private funds as a wooden drawbridge leading to a cotton mill on the island, a storm destroyed all but the stone piers in 1821. Now open for use April through October during daylight hours, the bridge is kept in the "open" position and cannot be accessed November through March. The main attraction is the spectacular views of Roosevelt Island and the Manhattan skyline while walking over. Since Ward’s Island itself is undergoing some type of redevelopment with numerous chain link fences corralling pedestrians toward suburbanesque soccer fields, many of the waterfront pathways and other facilities such as a horse stable are defunct and inaccessible. The British used this 255 acre island as a military outpost during the Revolutionary War. In the 1840’s, hundreds of thousands of bodies were relocated here from the Madison Square Park and Bryant Park potter’s fields. Still dominating the landscape, the Manhattan Psychiatric Center originally opened in 1847 as the largest psychiatric institution in the world. With restorative salty breezes and pastoral calm, it’s easy to see how Ward’s Island remains a top respite for harried "non-committed" residents as well!
More information on PlanetEye: Wards Island Park
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