Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Governors Island All the Rage
By
John Del Signore
Published Sep 15, 2008
Modified Feb 24, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
View all 9
By
John Del Signore
Published Sep 15, 2008
Modified Feb 24, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
More than 100,000 people have taken the free ferry over to Governors Island so far this year, up from 56,000 in 2007 and 26,000 in 2006. Today the Times takes a look at the 172-acre island's new-found popularity among everyone from crowd-surfing punks to exuberant swing dancers. If only those groups could one day share the same dance floor!
Oh, and let's not forget the island's appeal for miniature golfers. The Figment celebration of participatory arts currently features the "City of Dreams Mini-Golf" course, with 9 holes of imaginatively designed putting greens. It's open Fridays through Sundays until October 12th, and it's free. So are the bikes and kites next weekend, when the first 250 visitors each day will be given a kite to fly on the island's Parade Ground, and the bicycles will be available for one hour rentals at no charge.
The island closes for the season on October 12th, so check out the ferry schedule here. (Bikes can be brought on the boat at no charge.) It's open to the public Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m and on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. And behold the city's ambitious plans for a 40-acre park on the island.
Tagged
governors island
makeover
new york
new york city
park
plan
renderings
West 8
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Retired NYPD detective charged with murder in George Washington Bridge shooting
Police say a Rockland County man was fatally shot during what appeared to be a road rage incident on Tuesday night.
By
Charles Lane
Published Oct 21, 2026 at 4:26 p.m. ET
Modified Oct 21, 2026 at 5:43 p.m. ET
NYPD officer faces disciplinary trial 10 years after killing Delrawn Small
Officer Wayne Isaacs will go on trial in January on a charge that he used improper force when he shot and killed Delrawn Small in East New York in July 2016.
By
Ben Feuerherd
News
NYPD officer faces disciplinary trial 10 years after killing Delrawn Small
Officer Wayne Isaacs will go on trial in January on a charge that he used improper force when he shot and killed Delrawn Small in East New York in July 2016.
By
Ben Feuerherd
NYC adult daycare operators charged with committing over $500K in Medicaid fraud
By
Caroline Lewis
Port Authority eyes $117M fix to Manhattan roadway where falling debris smashed cars
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Bronx couple starved their 3-year-old to death, indictment says
By
Catalina Gonella
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .