Tour Description

Today, Governors Island offers a place to rest and reflect on a transformative decade of waterfront planning and climate action in New York City.

Join the Trust for Governors Island for a 1-hour walk from its ferry landing and historic district through urban meadows and forests, including an award-winning 43-acre park that opened to New Yorkers in phases throughout the 2010s.

Designed by Dutch landscape architecture firm West 8, the park includes eco-friendly destinations that are designed to withstand coastal flooding and guide stormwater flows, while also inviting thriving, biodiverse ecosystems for generations to come. The park enables visitors to renew and enjoy their connection with salt winds, dynamic waters, and expansive views of New York Harbor.

Tour guides from the Trust will bring visitors through three nature-based features on Governors Island: Colonels Row, the original shoreline of the Island; Hammock Grove, a young urban forest with wind-, heat- ,and drought-resistant species that native insects and birds call home; and Outlook Hill, with 360-degree views of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and the Statue of Liberty.

The tour will involve 60 minutes of walking through flat and hilly terrain with gentle slopes. The tour will be entirely outdoors.

Governors Island is accessible by ferry. Please visit govisland.org/ferry for information, tickets, and schedules. Ferry tickets are not included with registration.

About the Organization

The Trust for Governors Island is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization created by the City of New York responsible for the planning, operations and ongoing development of Governors Island. The Trust’s mission is to realize the full potential of Governors Island for the inspiration and enjoyment of all New Yorkers, demonstrating a bold vison for public space.