Courtney Hall
Courtney Hall brought unparalleled passion and authenticity to all he did. He reached the greatest heights in the academia, the NFL, and business. He was born in Los Angeles and went on the study at Rice University where he was also a standout football player who was later drafted into the NFL. Courtney played eight successful seasons with the San Diego Chargers, including captaining the 1994 AFC Championship team. The consummate scholar, Courtney went on to earn MBA and JD degrees from the University of Chicago. Later, he co-founded Hillcrest Venture Partners, where he served as Managing Director. For over a decade, Courtney served as a Trustee of the Randall’s Island Park Alliance until his passing in April 2021. As a member of our Executive Committee and the Chair of our Programming Committee, he cared deeply for the Island and advocated for increased access and recreational resources for his Harlem community and beyond.
Of all his accomplishments, his greatest pride was his beautiful and loving family: his wife, LaShann DeArcy Hall, sons Terence and Alexander, and daughters Rachael and Jayden. We are grateful to them for having shared and supported Courtney’s love of Randall’s Island, and the Alliance will forever be grateful for his leadership and great friendship.
We are excited to raise contributions towards the building of the Randall’s Island Park Nature Center. Join us in honoring Courtney as we raise $250,000 towards the Courtney Hall classroom. Click here for details.
Ricardo Zurita
Randall’s Island has benefited immensely from the creative vision Ricardo Zurita provided as a partner in development of RIPA’s Management, Restoration & Development Plan for the Park, and as the architect of Icahn Stadium, Sportime, and the iconic orange comfort stations. Born in Quito, Ecuador, he and his family immigrated to New York City where he later attended Stuyvesant High School. He then studied at Cornell University, graduating with an architecture degree. The Alliance is especially proud to honor his contributions on the 20th Anniversary of his firm, RZAPS, and looks forward to an exciting future of continued collaborations including: the new Drive Shack golf facility; a 10-court expansion at Sportime; and the transformative new Randall’s Island Park Alliance Nature Center that will help foster Courtney’s vision of accessible public programming for all.
2021 HONOREES
Aimee Boden
For nearly three decades, Aimee spearheaded restoration of Randall’s Island Park, transforming the Park into New York’s premier destination for sports and recreation. She helped form and worked alongside a dedicated Board of Trustees to guide the Park’s development, managing major capital projects including the Icahn Stadium track and field facility, the 20-court Sportime tennis center, construction of more than 60 new sports fields, 20 acres of wetlands and natural areas restoration, an Urban Farm, and an Island-wide pathway system. A visionary planner and masterful negotiator, she also built the Harlem River Event Area into a regional outdoor destination, bringing to the Island international festivals and cultural events from Lollapalooza, Governors Ball, and Electric Zoo to Cirque du Soleil and the Frieze Art Fair.
Ray Selvadurai
Over twenty-two years of leadership at the Manhattan Soccer Club, Ray has built a home for youth soccer players and their families to nurture aspiring young talents into successful athletic careers. A standout youth and collegiate athlete, Ray effectively translated his talents into an impactful coaching career, producing numerous NCAA Division I, II, III and NJCAA college players, many of whom have gone on to earn team captain and All-America honors. Five of his former MSC players have gone on to the professional ranks (MLS, Premier League) and been selected to National Teams. In partnership with the Randall’s Island Park Alliance, Ray has affected thousands of young lives and helped to overcome the limitations of competitive athletics in a dense urban environment.