Governors Island in 2013

Governors Island is a 172 acre island in the heart of the New York Harbor, across lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. I've written about the island in a previous blog when I first visited in 2012. The island is currently in full swing for the construction and development of a new park and public open spaces. When it will open to the public in May 2014 a huge portion of the island will be entirely different from what it looked like before.

After the federal government sold the island to the people of New York, the city created the Trust for Governors Island, the organization charged with the operations, planning and redevelopment of 150 acres of the island. The remaining 22 acres were declared the Governors Island National Monument and is managed by the National Park Service.

The Trust is transforming Governors Island into a destination with great public open space, as well as educational, not-for-profit, and commercial facilities. Construction has been completed on 30 new acres of park and public spaces that will open for public use in May 2014. In summer of 2013, The Trust broke ground on the Hills, the crowning feature of the new park. Made of recycled construction and 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 panorama of the Statue of Liberty, New York Harbor and the Lower Manhattan skyline. 

Last year I went to Governors Island on the first day it opened in May, visited again in July and in September, on the last day before it closed its 2013 season. When I went there on its opening day in May, the first improvement at the island can be seen from the ferry, in big white letters.

Another new development is the Welcome Wall at the Soissons Landing which provided visitors with a directional map and information. 

Going around the island, I spied the bicycles for rent parked and lined up for the visitors to use and enjoy. Nobody used them that day, however, as it was still cold and very windy.

I also had the chance to go around the barracks buildings inside Fort Jay, one of the two forts in the Governors Island National Monument.

Lady Liberty was also a very welcome sight that day although access to the area of the island directly across her was restricted due to the ongoing construction of the new park.

I have read some articles about the Governors Island expansion so I proceeded to Liggett Hall to see the ongoing development.

Inside the arch, as you can see in the above picture, was a small temporary structure where visitors could stand and gaze at the ongoing development. There was also a before and after poster so people can have an idea what the new development would look like.

So I stood on that temporary structure that cold day in May last year and gazed at the ongoing development. Nothing much to see at that point but the base of some structures. I'm sure a lot of development was going on in areas not visible from the arch.

To my right was still more development and a great view of Lady Liberty.

It was just the first day of the 2013 season and I know I'd be back. Even if it was cloudy that day and the air still so nippy, Governors Island always has one of the best views of lower Manhattan across the harbor.

Summer was already in full swing the next time I was able to visit Governors Island in July 2013. It was the City of Water Day and most of the free boat rides originated from the island. There were many visitors, picnics and bicycle rides seem to be the order of the day.

Governors Island is home to Figment, an annual participatory arts event that aims to provide a forum for community-based art and experience. Last year, the star of the show was the Head in the Clouds Pavilion which was made of 53,780 recycled bottles – the amount thrown away in New York City in only 1 hour.

As I continued to walk around the island, I chanced upon this delightful ride in the form of a pig. It was one of the rides in Fête Paradiso, the world’s first traveling festival of vintage carnival rides and carousels which made its American debut on Governors Island last summer.

I had a previous commitment that day but still stayed to get some shots and enjoyed the carnival atmosphere. The vintage rides and the games were awesome! You can see the rest of the rides in my Flickr album Fete Paradiso at Governors Island.

I also checked on the ongoing construction of the new park. The most obvious difference from my view at the temporary structure at Liggett Hall was that Building 877, the largest non-historic building on Governors Island, was no longer standing on the site it once occupied. It was imploded on June 9 to make way for the new park. You can watch a video of the implosion on this link.

As usual, Governors Island offered a great view of lower Manhattan shining across the New York harbor.

September 29 was the last day the island was open for the 2013 season and it was Park Preview Weekend. The public was invited to see the transformation of acres of landfill into an incredible park. Liggett Arch was the gateway to the new park which opens to the Liggett Terrace.

The Arch opens into Liggett Terrace, a great urban plaza made welcoming by flower beds and mosaics, plantings, art, seating, cafe carts and play structures. From the Terrace, the Hammock Grove and the Play Lawn unfold beyond, with the promise of the Hills in the distance.

There were posters showing the proposed development and how the area looked before. 

This red hammock is the first one to grace the Hammock Grove. I can't wait to try out all the hammocks next year.

The Hammock Grove provides an area of filtered light and shade between the cultivated sunny space of Liggett Terrace and the open expanse of the Play Lawn and the Hills and Harbor beyond. Visitors come to the seven-acre grove to enjoy the seasons — spring’s first leaves, summer shade, and fall leaf colors. Hammocks set in the shade of the trees offer a quiet way to relax and the inspiration for this area’s name. Hammock Grove offers a wonderful respite and chapter in the park’s unfolding topography and views. Hammock Grove contains 300 new trees representing 55 species.

There were already a lot of planted saplings in the new park but I still saw some areas intended for trees that weren't planted yet. I know this would be a wonderful place as the trees grow and branch out.

And I'm happy to see this note. Isn't it cool?

"The tree are being planted in a grid so that the Statue can always be seen."

The trees were planted inside an area enclosed by pre-cast concrete which can be used as a seat for park visitors. These concrete pieces are manufactured in Buffalo, NY.

Walking further into the park I saw lots of construction equipment and materials while Lady Liberty peeked beyond the mountains of sand and gravel. This area would be known as The Hills.

At the top of the highest hill, visitors are rewarded with an extraordinary 360° vantage point on the City, the Harbor and its icons. In a city of exceptional views from skyscrapers, the height of a nine-story building would offer little of distinction. On Governors Island, out in the harbor, the height of an 82-foot hill offers a sensation, even a thrill of a view never seen before, never even imagined.

This is still part of The Hills, at the time of my visit work has started as you can see from the signs attached to the fence. If the views from the island at ground level are awesome, how much more from the top of The Hills?

I also saw this beautiful rendition of what the Play Lawn would look like once the development is finished.

The Play Lawn is an 11-acre green expanse where children and adults play sports, soak in the sun, roll around on the grass, grill, and gather. 

Whereas shady areas can be found nearby in the Hammock Grove, trees will dot the Play Lawn only occasionally, keeping unobstructed areas for play and openness to the sky, sun and Harbor.

As I gazed at Lady Liberty, I saw some ongoing construction work being done. This was probably part of the development for Liberty Terrace, which would be right across the statue.

Liberty Terrace connects New York City to the Statue of Liberty. Standing on the Terrace, the visitor sees Lady Liberty’s face in person, perhaps for the first time. As visitors tour the Great Promenade, from either direction, the Statue comes in view, as a surprise when rounding the South Prow, or first in profile on the Island’s western Promenade. As cyclists head south or pedestrians meander through the park, the trees, hills and lawns frame views of the Statue, all culminating at Liberty Terrace.

Certain parts of the park weren't available for the park preview so standing at the southmost edge of the area that was open to the public that day, I took this pic. This was my view gazing south, to where the South Prow would be located.

As the Great Promenade rounds the South Prow, it splits into two levels. The Great Promenade’s upper level curves inward to form the South Prow Overlook, which is elevated seven feet above the Wetland Gardens and picnic grounds.

From the South Prow Overlook, the Wetland Gardens and Picnic Grounds unfold like a carpet of water-loving plants and green lawn framed by the blue- gray water, sky and Statue of Liberty beyond. The elevation creates a new perspective on the sea and sky, a 180° view that complements the 360° views afforded by a tour of the Grand Promenade or a walk to the top of the Hills.

From where I was standing that day on the southmost part of the park open to the public, this was my view looking back at Liggett Hall.

On the way back I passed by some of the spaces designated for the play area of Liggett Terrace.

Liggett Terrace is a wonderful place for young children and their families. A play area provides climbing and swinging activities while reflecting pools offer children a chance to get wet or play with toy boats.

And of course, I can't leave Governors Island without taking a picture of lower Manhattan across the harbor.

Thank you Governors Island for inviting the public to the Park Preview. I can't wait for the whole development to finish. For sure Governors Island will be at the top of the list for everybody to visit once it opens for the 2014 season.

For the rest of my photos, here are the links to the albums on Flickr:

Governors Island, 2013 

Governors Island Park Preview

NYC Harbor Tours (City of Water Day)

Fete Paradiso at Governors Island

City of Water Day 2013

Last July 20 was the sixth City of Water Day in New York City. Presented by the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance, an alliance of over 700 organizations with ties to regional waterways who are working to transform the waters of New York and New Jersey Harbor into clean and accessible places to learn, work and play, with inviting parks, dependable jobs and reliable, eco-friendly transportation for all.

 MWA’s City of Water Day Festival is a free day-long celebration of the world-class potential of the water that surrounds us and brings us together.  Held on Governors Island and Liberty State Park in NJ--the event draws thousands of people from throughout the NY-NJ metropolitan region to participate in hundreds of unique, fun, and educational waterfront activities organized by MWA and its 700 Alliance Partners.   

This year's celebration included free public kayaking and rowing, fishing demonstations and some hands-on waterfront activities for kids. The highlight of the festivities, for me, were the free boat tours on historic and educational vessels. The different vessels had limited passengers and I was lucky to get tickets to two of the boat tours. 

My first ticket was in the morning aboard the yacht the Marco Polo Jewel. 

Climb aboard the Marco Polo Jewel, a glorious 120-foot yacht boasting two sprawling outdoor decks, for a scenic river cruise up the Hudson. The Jewel will sail north up the Hudson to the George Washington Bridge then return to West Harlem Piers.

We set off from the West Harlem Piers around 10:30 am 

From the yacht i could see the 125th Street part of the Cherry Walk, I've walked along these 25 blocks of continuous walking path along the Hudson River Greenway in the spring. The path is planted with cherry trees, a gift of Japan to the people of New York City. I could also see the bell tower of the Riverside Church, as well as the top of the General Grant National Memorial. When you walk around Morningside Heights, you'll see these beautiful structures up close.

We also passed by Riverbank State Park, a 28-acre park built on the top of a sewage treatment facility on the Hudson River

Riverbank is the only park of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. Inspired by urban rooftop designs in Japan, this 28-acre multi-level landscaped recreational facility is a state-of-the-art park facility. Rising 69 feet above the Hudson River, Riverbank offers a wide variety of recreational, athletic and arts experiences for all ages, interests and abilities.

Pretty soon, the Little Red Lighthouse came into view. There it is, a beauty in red under the George Washington Bridge.

The yacht didn't stay long, it already started to turn before we came near the George Washington Bridge. Still, being in the middle of the Hudson River gave us a great view of the bridge.

The hour passed quickly, pretty soon we were docking back at the West Harlem Piers. I declined the offer of food and drinks as I wanted to be early at Governors Island where my afternoon trip will depart from. 

On my way to the Battery Maritime Building which houses the ferry to Governors Island, I passed by Water Street and saw that part of the street has been cordoned off, the area displaying a large sand castle.

It even comes with a warning sign.

Then I'm at the ferry on my way to Governors Island.The Soissons landing now sports the island's name in big letters.

Much of the island's south end is currently undergoing construction. There is a sort of viewing deck at the Liggett Arch where you could monitor the project.

There were also some exhibits on the island in relation to the City of Water day festivities.

Then it was time to board the NY Waterway Ferry for the Harborside Memorial Tour. It was a hot summer day, I could see the haze looking out at lower Manhattan and Governors Island.

We passed along Buttermilk Channel, our tour guide pointed out the Snapple factory.

One of the memorials our tour guide mentioned was the Tear Drop Memorial in Bayonne, New Jersey. It is an official gift of the Russian government as a memorial to the victims of the September 11 attacks and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. We were too far to take a closer look but this was what it looks like from where we were at the New York harbor. The wiki link above has a great pic of the memorial.

After the Tear Drop Memorial, Lady Liberty came in sight. She reopened just last 4th of July after hurricane Sandy damaged most of its brick walkways. There she is, always holding that beacon of hope for all the world to see.

After our boat left the Statue of Liberty area, I looked back and saw the sun's rays shining down on the statue. It looked like the heavens were pouring out their blessings on her and the tired, the poor and the huddled masses.

Next to Liberty Island, we passed by Ellis Island, the former gateway for millions of immigrants to the United States from 1892 until 1954. Like Liberty Island, Ellis Island was heavily damaged by hurricane Sandy and is still closed to the public.

Then we were heading towards lower Manhattan. The skycrapers looked so colorful when viewed from the New York harbor.

Battery Park City has a lot of memorials. When I was walking there at the end of last Winter, I passed by the Irish Hunger Memorial, the New York Police Memorial and tried to see the single panel of Berlin Wall on display at the Kowsky Plaza but the area was cordoned off for repairs at that time. Battery Park City also houses the Museum of Jewish Heritage, which was created as a living memorial to those who perished during the Holocaust. The memorial is housed in the low buildings at the foreground of the pic below.

Then there is the National September 11 Memorial.

The National September 11 Memorial & Museum is the principal memorial and museum commemorating the September 11 attacks of 2001, which killed nearly 3,000 people, and the World Trade Center bombing of 1993, which killed six. The memorial is located at the World Trade Center site, on the former location of the Twin Towers, which were destroyed during the attacks.

The memorial can't be seen from the river as it consists of two pools which was the former site of the Twin Towers but One World Trade Center, which rose from the ashes of Ground Zero, is now standing proudly over the site. Standing at 1,776 feet, it is now the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.

We then passed by Pier A, the 127-year-old former home of the harbor police. From the river, it looks like the restoration work is nearly finished but it seems the outdoor public plaza has hit a snag.

From the New York Harbor, I can also see the pylons of the East Coast Memorial in Battery Park. The memorial commemorates the U.S. servicemen who died in the coastal waters of the western Atlantic Ocean during World War II. There are a total of 4,609 names inscribed on both sides of the eight 19-foot tall granite pylons.

Battery Park has a lot of memorials. I've covered some of them during my walk there on Veterans Day last year.

By then our time was up and we have to go back to Governors Island. We passed by the Staten Island Ferry Terminal and the historic Battery Maritime Building which is used by the Governors Island Ferry.

We also passed by the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges, two of the three bridges connecting Brooklyn with lower Manhattan.

One last pic of lower Manhattan and then we were heading back to Governors Island.

After the boat tour, I walked around Governors Island again, this time at its east side. I saw the new public art by Figment entitled Head in the Clouds.

Head in the Clouds offers visitors the chance to walk into the clouds, experiencing them from the inside out. Clouds are collections of water and movement that seem to form animals, people, and cities by dreamers gazing at the sky.

I also saw the Tree House, a Figment project which has returned to the island for the third year. Both kids and adults love it!

When I crossed over to Nolan Park, I was amazed as the area was filled with vintage rides, mostly carousels. Turns out Fête Paradiso, the world’s first traveling festival of vintage carnival rides and carousels, is making its American debut on Governors Island. This cute ride was the first one I came across.

Some carousels have been damaged over time that only the seats were intact.

There were also vintage carnival games.

And a bicycle carousel ..

Among the attractions, which come from the collections of Francis Staub and Regis Masclet, is a bicycle carousel from the late 19th century – one of only two in the world that were created in Paris to encourage the use of what was then the new mode of transportation – the bicycle.

The rides were so fascinating, I made a collage of some of the unique seats.

It was so much fun to see the rides, hopefully I can go back before Governors Island closes for the season. On my way to the ferry to go back to Manhattan, I saw this drawing on the street.

Cool! Makes you want to run all the way to the rides and hop on one of the vintage seats.

That was a very enjoyable and informative City of Water day celebration, with a bonus of vintage carousels from Fête Paradiso. I hope to join again in next year's festivities.

For the rest of my pics, here are the albums on Flickr:

NYC Harbor Tours

Fete Paradiso at Governors Island

Governors Island