Reopening NYC: Governors Island to stay open year round, mayor announces

NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- Governors Island will be open all year long, daily from 7 a.m. to 6:15 p.m., starting November 1.

"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," said New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.

To support the new the schedule, NYC Ferry service to the island will be expanded.

That will coincide with the inauguration of NYC Ferry's new Coney Island route.

NYC Ferry will serve Governors Island's Yankee Pier via the South Brooklyn Route, expanding direct access from Red Hook, Atlantic Ave/Brooklyn Bridge Park-Pier 6, DUMBO/Fulton Ferry, and Corlears Hook in the Lower East Side for Governors Island visitors and growing community of tenants.

"Governors Island has been an oasis for New Yorkers for nearly two decades, and I'm so pleased that it will now become a destination in all seasons," said Vicki Been, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development. "The Governors Island team has been working hard to expand the type and number of partner organizations on the Island -- not to mention the Climate Solutions Center we have in the works -- and this year-round public ferry access is a critical part of realizing our full vision for this green, cultural, and educational hub."

Governors Island is currently open from May 1st through October 31st.

The island reopened in May after the coronavirus pandemic cut short its season last year.

Today's announcement marks a significant milestone in the transformation of Governors Island into a remarkable resource for New Yorkers, the mayor's office said.

Following its transfer from federal to local control in 2003, the City of New York and the Trust for Governors Island have worked to invest in expanding public access to Governors Island, which has traditionally welcomed visitors in the summer months but has long been envisioned as a destination accessible year-round.

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