Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Franklin D.


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Summary

Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park is located on the southern tip of Roosevelt Island in the East River of New York City. The park is dedicated to the four freedoms that President Franklin D. Roosevelt outlined in his 1941 State of the Union address: freedom of speech and expression, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.

Some good reasons to visit the park include its beautiful design, peaceful atmosphere, and historic significance. The park was designed by renowned architect Louis I. Kahn and features a large granite plaza, a central lawn, and a stunning view of the Manhattan skyline.

Points of interest within the park include a bronze bust of President Roosevelt and a quote from his Four Freedoms speech inscribed on a granite wall. Visitors can also take a self-guided audio tour of the park to learn more about its history and design.

Interesting facts about the park include that it took over 40 years to complete due to funding and design issues. The park was finally completed in 2012, more than 30 years after Kahn's death.

The best time of year to visit the park is in the spring or fall, when the weather is mild and the trees are in bloom. However, the park is open year-round and offers a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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