The current
Wards Island Bridge, a pedestrian bridge connecting the island to Manhattan was built in 1951. It was designed to give access to Wards Island Park to
East Harlem, which has few public green spaces. In 2006 the original walkway of the Triborough Bridge Queens leg, alighting in Randall's Island, was demolished and a shorter, wider and less steep one built to connect to Wards Island.
Most of Wards Island Park was closed in early 2008, pending renovation.
