Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Governors Island Is Now Open 365 Days A Year, As It Should Be
By
Jen Carlson
Published Sep 28, 2021
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 .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Sep 28, 2021
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
Governors Island, a 172-acre oasis in the New York Harbor, will now be open year-round, starting this year. Previously, it was only open from May 1st through October 31st.
Through the end of October hours will remain the same (Monday-Friday 10 a.m. - 6:20 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 10 a.m.-7 p.m.); but starting November 1st, hours will expand to 7 a.m.-6:15 p.m. 7 days a week. A rep for Governors Island told us, "We anticipate adjusting hours again in Spring 2022 when we are back in our peak season."
Mayor Bill de Blasio, the Trust for Governors Island, and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) made the announcement this morning, along with the news that NYC Ferry will now serve Governors Island year-round, with a route to the Island’s Yankee Pier via the South Brooklyn Route. They will also expand "direct access from Red Hook, Atlantic Ave/Brooklyn Bridge Park-Pier 6, DUMBO/Fulton Ferry, and Corlears Hook in the Lower East Side."
Read More: The Long-Awaited Future Of Governors Island Is Almost Here
While Governors Island as we now know it—as a public space—opened in 2005, its transformation has continued over the years. Most recently, a luxury campground opened, and a soon-to-open luxury spa is now set amongst the historic buildings and natural beauty of the island.
Soon, it will become home to the city's Center for Climate Solutions.
Read More: A Rare Look Inside The Abandoned Buildings Of Governors Island
Before opening to the public, the Island was home to military families—a small town unto itself, complete with a Burger King. It also housed a golf course in the 1980s, the same decade it was the site of nuclear arms talk between Reagan, Bush and Gorbachev. In the 1950s, Burt Bacharach—at the time an army bandleader—could be found playing the piano in a now-abandoned ballroom.
Read More: Your Guide To Visiting Governors Island 2021
"The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented opportunity to reimagine public space in this city – and now, we’re proud to keep the crown jewel of our harbor open to New Yorkers all year round,” de Blasio said today.
Plans to make the island year-round have been in the works for years, however.
“Over the past two decades, a visionary idea to put Governors Island on the map as a public destination was outlined, and today we are proud to announce that Governors Island will now be open for New Yorkers to enjoy year-round,” said Clare Newman, President and CEO of the Trust for Governors Island, noting this is a big moment for their longtime vision "to increase equitable access to this remarkable resource."
Tagged
governors island
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
Ever wish you could get paid to walk through a stranger’s house? ‘The Scout’ is for you.
A new film focuses on the strange career of a location scout in New York City.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Sep 26, 2026
There are 100s of places to visit during Open House New York. Here's 5 of our favorites.
See the entire lineup for the weekend when the city opens its doors.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Arts & Entertainment
There are 100s of places to visit during Open House New York. Here's 5 of our favorites.
See the entire lineup for the weekend when the city opens its doors.
By
Hannah Frishberg
A massive MTA archive ended up in a Virginia warehouse. A Brooklyn man brought it home.
By
Hannah Frishberg
How a Harry Styles pop-up in the East Village led to a nearby bookstore owner's arrest
By
Sonia Rao
NYC’s creative workers are increasingly self-employed, report says
By
Hannah Frishberg
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 .