Governors Island Opens May 24 with 30 New Acres of Park and a Diverse Array of Programs

Posted at 06:12h in by NYLK in Uncategorized

The Trust for Governors Island (The Trust) has announced its 2014 public season. Visitors to Governors Island will enjoy 30 new acres of extraordinary park that open for the first time. Additionally this season, visitors will enjoy more arts, cultural, recreational and educational programs than ever before. Governors Island opens to the public on Saturday, May 24 and will be open every day through September 28.



“We want every New Yorker to feel like they are personally invited to enjoy the 2014 season on Governors Island,” said Leslie Koch, President of The Trust for Governors Island. “Governors Island is the shared place for art and play for the entire City.”

The new 30 acres of park that will open for the first time on May 24 is designed by acclaimed landscape architecture firm West 8. The new park includes Liggett Terrace, a sunny, six-acre plaza with seasonal plantings, seating, and public art; Hammock Grove, a sunny ten-acre space that is home to more than 1,500 new trees, play areas and 50 red hammocks; and the Play Lawn, 14 acres for play and relaxation that includes two natural turf ball fields sized for adult softball and Little League baseball. The new park also features site-specific art by artists Mark Handforth and Susan Philipsz. These pieces are a part of Art Commissions GI, the Island’s public art commissioning program.

Visitors to the Island will see the next phase of park, the Hills, under construction. Made of recycled fill materials, the Hills will rise 25 to 80 feet above the Island, and the summit of the tallest Hill will provide visitors with a 360-degree panoramic view of the Harbor. The Hills will be complete in 2015.

In addition to the new park, the entire Historic District will be open to the public, as will much of the promenade around the Island. The promenade will be open from just south of the new ball fields through the Historic District over to Yankee Pier. The promenade will be closed on the eastern side of the Island south of Yankee Pier to just south of the ball fields due to ongoing construction.

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