Governors Island will reopen for the season on Wednesday, July 15, 2020!
Originally delayed due to COVID-19, Governors Island will reopen in one week, with new health, safety and social distancing protocols in place.
The Trust for Governors Island has implemented new health, safety and social distancing protocols to ensure a safe environment for all visitors, including:
- Limiting capacity on the ferry with a new ticket reservation system to ensure social distancing on ferries and the Island.
Visitors will select times and reserve ferry tickets in advance through the new system, which will launch at 10AM this Friday on govisland.org. - Increased cleaning procedures and schedules in all restrooms, aboard ferries, and in high-touch, high-traffic areas
- Requiring visitors to wear face coverings while riding the ferry or when social distancing is not possible
- Enhanced health and safety measures at all food and drink vending locations
- Installing hand sanitizer and handwashing stations throughout the Island
Starting July 15, Governors Island will be open from 10AM to 6PM on weekdays and 10AM to 7PM on weekends, with Manhattan ferries running every day from the Battery Maritime Building at 10 South St.
Collective Retreats Governors Island, a glamping and outdoor events service, will be hosting at the park and glamping tents will be available starting July 15. They’re offering al fresco dining, an outdoor bar and private water taxis. Private-event spaces for 20 or 50 guests can be rented.
Almost 20 eateries and popular food trucks will be serving up everything from oysters to ice cream.
Vendors set for the opening include: Island Oyster, Taco Vista, Jamaican-fusion establishment Fauzia’s Heavenly Delights, Kimchi Taco, traditional Ethiopian and Eritrean food eatery Makina, Threes Brewing, The Meat Hook, ice pop and slushies haven People’s Pops, Melt Bakery, Venezuelan-style hot dog restaurant Perros Y Vainas, Joe Coffee, Three Peaks Lodge at Collective Retreats, longtime island establishment Little Eva’s, Pizza Yard, Everything About Crêpes, Wings Lovers, Wafels & Dinges and halal teriyaki chicken bowl restaurant Terry and Yaki.
Fort Jay and Castle Williams are still temporarily closed.
To reach a broad range of visitors, the Trust for Governors Island has launched an extensive outreach initiative and is offering free ferries for all NYCHA residents and community organizations across the City.
This season, in an effort to increase access to communities less served by open space in New York City, Brooklyn ferries to Governors Island will depart from Atlantic Basin in Red Hook this year. There will be no Brooklyn Ferry Service from Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Brooklyn ferries begin service on July 18 and will run on weekends only.
Governors Island ferries are always free for:
- NYCHA residents
- Kids 12 and under
- Seniors 65 and over
- Anyone with an IDNYC
- Current and former military servicemembers
- Governors Island Members
The city’s NYC Ferry will offer additional connections to Governors Island with a dedicated weekend shuttle from Wall Street/Pier 11 that will run roughly every 30 minutes beginning July 18. Tickets are $2.75 or free by transfer from any NYC Ferry route. All visitors who arrive at Governors Island on NYC Ferry are strongly encouraged to depart on NYC Ferry. NYC Ferry riders are also required to wear a mask or face covering at all times. For ticketing info and a full schedule, visit www.ferry.nyc.
For more information on Governors Island’s 2020 season, click here or visit govisland.org.
