Wards Island

Wards Island is situated in the East River in New York City. Administratively it is part of the borough of Manhattan. It is bridged by rail to the borough of Queens by the Hell Gate Bridge and it is joined to Randall's Island to the north by landfill. The two islands together are run by the Randall's Island Sports Foundation under a partnership agreement with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. Together, the two islands form New York County's Census Tract 240, which had a total population of 1,386 living on 2.2 km2 of land area, according to the United States Census, 2000.

Viaducts leading to the Triborough Bridge and Hell Gate bridges pass overhead. Vehicular access is by the Little Hell Gate bridge from Randall's Island, while a narrow pedestrian and bicycling bridge, Wards Island Bridge, links the island to the east side of Manhattan in Harlem.

The island is home to several public facilities, including The New York State Office of Mental Health Manhattan Psychiatric Center, Kirby Forensic Psychiatric Center (which serves the criminally insane) which is patrolled by the New York State Office of Mental Health Police, and a New York City Department of Environmental Protection wastewater treatment plant which is patrolled by New York City Department of Environmental Protection Police. The New York State Police also have a station on the island it is named Troop NYC. It provides investigative services such as Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Narcotics Enforcement Unit, Organized Crime Track Force, and, Special Investigations Unit, and also provides support to state police operations in NYC such as state police troopers patrolling the state-run Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and NYS governors office as well as parade details held in New York City, special operations, and activities on Wards Island. It is also home to Wards Island Park, which offers stunning views, athletic fields, and picnic grounds.

There is also a homeless shelter, the Charles Gay Assessment Shelter (Clark Thomas Building), on the island run by the New York City Department of Homeless Services and is patrolled by the New York City Department of Homeless Services Police