Governors Island Reopening July 15; Ferry Service By Reservation Only

Press release from Brooklyn Community Board 2:

July 10 2020

Originally delayed due to COVID-19, Governors Island will reopen for the season on Wednesday, July 15, with new health, safety and social distancing protocols, and reduced ferry service, amenities, and programming.

Starting July 15, Governors Island will be open from 10AM to 6PM on weekdays and 10AM to 7PM on weekends. Passive recreation activities like biking, birding, and picnicking will be available.

Changes to Ferry Service:

New ticket reservation system to ensure social distancing on the ferries and on the Island. Visitors may select times and reserve ferry tickets in advance through the new system on govisland.org ( https://sable.madmimi.com/c/99... ).

Manhattan ferries begin service on July 15 and will run every day from the Battery Maritime Building at 10 South St.

Brooklyn ferries begin service on July 18 and will run on weekends only. 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 this season.**

Free Ferry Rides:

To reach a broad range of visitors, the Trust for Governors Island has launched an extensive outreach initiative and is offering free ferries and early access to ticket reservations for all NYCHA residents and community organizations across the City. Governors Island ferries are now free for:

• NYCHA residents
• Kids 12 and under
• Seniors 65 and over
• Anyone with an IDNYC
• Current and former military service members
• Governors Island Members

New Health, Safety, and Social Distancing Protocols:

In addition to the new ticket reservation system, the Trust for Governors Island has implemented new health, safety and social distancing protocols to ensure a safe environment for all visitors, including:

• 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

Changes to Amenities:

▪ Restroom Trailers and Building 110 Restrooms will remain open with limited capacities. Portable toilets will not be available this season.

▪ Handwashing stations , hand sanitizing stations, drinking fountains and water bottle fillers will be available for use throughout the Island.

▪ Food Vendors will be open with health and safety procedures and enhanced cleaning.

▪ Liggett Terrace Food Court will be open for takeaway service, and Island Oyster, Taco Vista, and Three Peaks Lodge will be open with outdoor seating.

▪ Athletic fields are open for passive recreation only.

▪ Citibike and Blazing Saddles will be open for bike rentals.

▪ Play areas, including Hammock Grove and Slide Hill will be open.

▪ The Urban Farm will be open for passive visits on weekends from 12-4PM.

▪ Vending Machines and ATM’s are available for use on Island and will be disinfected regularly.

▪ Limited quantities of grills will be available to reserve in advance.

▪ The Welcome Center at Soissons Landing will be open Wednesday-Sunday.

▪ Collective Retreats will be open with new health and safety guidelines in place.

Service Changes:

▪ All outdoor event permits and athletic field permits will be canceled through at least July 31st.

▪ All indoor programming in Nolan Park and Colonels Row will be postponed until August 31st. The houses may be used as workspaces with limited capacity.

▪ Galleries within LMCC will be closed to the public. Restrooms will remain open.

▪ In-person Governors Island tours are cancelled until further notice.

▪ National Park Service properties will be closed until further notice.

▪ Adventures GI amusements are closed until further notice.

▪ All group volunteer days of more than 10 people are cancelled until further notice.

▪ The Yankee Pier Welcome Center will be closed until further notice.

▪All outdoor event permits and athletic field permits will be canceled through at least July 31st.

▪All indoor programming in Nolan Park and Colonels Row will be postponed until August 31st. The houses may be used as workspaces with limited capacity.

▪Galleries within LMCC will be closed to the public. Restrooms will remain open.

▪In-person Governors Island tours are cancelled until further notice.

▪National Park Service properties will be closed until further notice.

▪Adventures GI amusements are closed until further notice.

▪All group volunteer days of more than 10 people are cancelled until further notice.

▪The Yankee Pier Welcome Center will be closed until further notice

For more information on Governors Island's 2020 season, visit govisland.org ( https://sable.madmimi.com/c/99... )

This press release was produced by Brooklyn Community Board 2. The views expressed here are the author’s own.