Farm fresh

On Saturday and Sundays from  11 AM to 4PM down at Picnic Point the Added Value Farmstand is open for business.  Fresh seasonal fruit and juices and jams from Red Jacket Orchards (Geneva, NY) are on offer as well as beautiful cut flowers from the Added Value Farm at Governors Island just across the lawn. [...]

New York dads (among others) ferry out to Governors Island

TIis past weekend a gang on nine dads took their children out to Governors Island, and we could not be more please that they have discovered the Island as a great free place to bring their kids and relax. And one of the guys put it: “The moment you ship out, you’re docking. You could [...]

Office Space

Office Space, Governors Island Originally uploaded by governors_island Just so you know, it’s not all fun and games out here. We spied this chap working through the drizzle we had this afternoon.

Governors Island Adds Sustainable Farm at Picnic Point

Governors Island has added a sustainable farm at Picnic Point! Added Value has planted a three acre farm on the newly created green space. The plants include tomatoes, squash, eggplant, sunflowers, and much more.  The farm uses a drip watering system which uses a fraction of the water that sprinklers use but still keeps the plants happy [...]

Volunteer at Governors Island

Governors Island needs help! We would love Friday and weekend volunteers to help out on the Island. If you have time and would like to get out of the house, we would love to have you. Please fill out an application and fax (the number is on the form) or email (volunteer-gipec@empire.state.ny.us) it in. There are plenty [...]

Survey Says….

Earlier this summer, we conducted a survey of Island visitors.  Most New Yorkers avoid eye contact when approached by a stranger with a clip board.  We were amazed at all the visitors who were kind enough to help us, and were very enthusiastic in the process.  We interrupted your Scrabble game, your boat-watching, your miniature [...]

From pogo sticks to pumpkin patches…

  Many summer visitors have been stopping by the “What’s Happening on Governors Island?” exhibit and giving us great ideas for the future park.  Over 500 people have done drawings or left notes.  Here’s a sampling:   Salsa music jam Butterfly garden Movies on the lawn       Yoga under the trees A place for all ages [...]

Just Add Water . . .

1.   2.   3.  It’s really hot! And when the going gets hot, the hot head to the water, in whatever form we can find it. Here on Governors Island, we think a lot about our intimate and complicated relationship with water, especially as we begin to plan a new park and Great Promenade.  Water – 400-800 yards [...]

Fun for friends and families

Last summer, we asked you to tell us what you thought about the park design competition proposals, and one of the topics you mentioned over and over again was the importance of serving families and children.  You said, ” We want to see Governors Island used as a place that encourages families and friends to [...]

Figment Festival

Day One of the Figment Festival was pretty amazing.  Art projects are springing up all over the Island in unexpected places and if you were flying over Governors Island you might have noticed a string of balloons floating above the Parade Ground. I hope the fantastic red white and blue electric car is back today [...]