Governors Island
The gentle breeze rustling through the trees. The occasional blare of the horn from the Staten Island Ferry leaving the Manhattan Terminal. The water lapping against the shore. People talking and children playing. A helicopter sometimes whirring overhead. These are the only sounds you hear on Governors Island. There are no cars.
Along the western shoreline, the Statue of Liberty’s gaze is ever present. The Staten Island ferry glides past on its way across the harbor. Other ferries, pleasure boats, and barges cruise past. There are spots on the inner parts of the island where you may not even realize you are in New York City, as your are surrounded by vegetation, trees and grassy knolls. The island is a truly special place to spend time without the typical noise of the city.
Governors Island sits in New York Harbor between the southern tip of Manhattan and Brooklyn. The Lenape, the Native American tribe originally that inhabited the New York City Area, called the island Paggank (“Nut Island”) after its plentiful hickory, oak, and chestnut trees. It was renamed Governor’s Island in 1699 when it became the residence of the British Governors. From the time of the Revolutionary War until 1995, the island was used by the United States Army and the United States Coast Guard; at first for military operations, but later as residential space for military families. The Army established a headquarters there in 1878. The Coast Guard took possession of the island in 1966, becoming the home of the Atlantic Area Command, the Maintenance and Logistics Command, and the Captain of the Port of New York. The Coast Guard closed its facilities on the island in 1995. All personnel were relocated by September 1966. That same year, the City of New York designated most of the former military buildings on the northern end of the island as a Historic district. The area around Fort Jay and Castle Williams was designated as a National Monument in 2001 by President Bill Clinton. The federal government sold the remaining land of Governors Island to the City of New York in 2003, with the deed provisioning that much of the island would be used as public space. The island first opened to the public in 2006.
Getting There
Governors Island is only accessible by ferry. The Governors Island Ferry operates daily between the Maritime Building, right next to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal, at the South Ferry of Manhattan. The trip takes eight minutes. The ferry is free from from 7 am to 11am on Weekends; other times, the adult fare is $5 for a round trip ticket. The NYC Ferry South Brooklyn Ferry route operates between East 34th Street and Wall Street in Manhattan with stops in Brooklyn to Governors Island. NYC Ferry also operates a shuttle service between Wall Street and Governors Island on summer weekends. The cost for all NYC Ferry service is $4.50 for a one way ticket. The dock for the Governors Island is at Soissons Landing in the former military area at the northern end of the island. The NYC Ferry landing is at Yankee Pier on the Brooklyn side of the island.
Things to Do
Just north of the former military base are The Hills and Hammock Grove, among other open spaces. Debris from the demolition of an old apartment building on the island was used in the construction of The Hills. An abundance of hammocks in Hammock Grove offer an inviting space to read or just by lazy enjoying a bit of quiet time. At the southern tip of the island is Picnic Grove with nice red picnic tables and red Adirondack chairs. The 2.2 mile promenade going around the southern tip, opened to the public in 2009, offers wonderful views of Staten Island, the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn, and the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge with the cranes of the Port of Bayonne to west. The promenade is a terrific place for walking, running, and bicycling. Bicycle rentals and surreys can be rented on the island or there is a CitiBike station located on the island. You can also bring your own bike for free on either ferry. If you are so inclined, there is also a Spa in one of the former military buildings located near the Governors Island ferry dock.
Places to Eat and Stay
The island is a great place to enjoy a picnic in the Picnic Grove or on one of the many grassy areas. Grills are available for reservation in Picnic Grove and Nolans Grove. Keep in mind, that you are not are permitted to bring alcohol onto the island. A number of food stands and restaurants are located at various spots around the island. Many of them serve alcohol. Places to eat range from simple, such as Makina Cafe to Three Peaks Lodge at Collective Retreats. Overnight stays are also available at Collective Retreats from April to October. Prices for an overnight stay range from $240 to $600 per night, depending on the season and occupancy. Camping is not permitted anywhere on Governors Island.
