For immediate release:
Friday, July 10, 2007

Contact:
Elizabeth Rapuano, 212-440-2205


GOVERNORS ISLAND HIGHLIGHTS FREE EVENTS AND PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND DAY CAMPS  
Activities for children of all ages to enjoy throughout the summer
 

There are dozens of activities, events and programs for children to enjoy this summer on Governors Island, the Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation (GIPEC) today announced. From bike riding, to scavenger hunts, to acres of green space for playing and picnics, Governors Island has experiences that children of all ages can enjoy. All activities and the boat ride to the Island are free.

“Governors Island is the perfect place for children and families to spend a summer weekend day,” said Leslie Koch, President of GIPEC. “We have an incredible number of activities for everyone to enjoy – from offering free bikes on Fridays, to concerts and programs for visitors of all ages.”

A list of activities for children and families is below:

Free Bike Fridays

Adults and children’s bikes are free every Friday on Governors Island. Bikes are entirely free for up to one hour.

Bike Rental

Additionally, Bike and Roll™ rents bikes and surreys every weekend. On Saturdays and Sundays, adult and children’s bikes can be rented for $5 for 30 minutes. The Island has more than two miles of car-free bike paths.  Visitors are also invited to bring their own bikes every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Bikes are allowed on the Governors Island ferry.

Mini golf

Governors Island has a nine-hole artist designed “City of Dreams” mini-golf course. The course perfect for kids of all ages and is open from noon to 4 every Saturday and Sunday.

Olafur Eliasson’s The New York City Waterfalls

Governors Island is one of four sites around New York Harbor for Olafur Eliasson’s The New York City Waterfalls public art installation. The Public Art Fund has a brochure that explains how the waterfalls were created, how they work, and what they mean.You can find the brochure at www.nycwaterfalls.com. Visitors can also get copies in the Governors Island Ferry Waiting Room.

National Park Service Programs

The National Park Service (NPS) has also created several different programs aimed toward children and families. NPS rangers dress in period costume and speak to visitors about the Island’s military history and what the experiences were like of those who lived here. Children’s programs take place every Friday.

“Many visitors to Governors Island enjoy National Park Service programs and tours of the National Historic District,” said Linda Neal, Superintendent, Governors Island National Monument. “We are pleased to be able to offer programs for children and families to introduce them to the Island’s military past.”

Governors Island Scavenger Hunt

Children can discover Governors Island’s history, as well as facts about New York Harbor, with the Governors Island Scavenger Hunt. Parents and children can download the hunt from www.govisland.com in advance of their visit, or they can pick up copies in the Governors Island Ferry Waiting Room.

Open Park Space for Visitors

There are more than 40 acres of open green parkland in the Island’s National Historic District. Visitors are encouraged to bring kites, Frisbees, bikes, and picnics to enjoy these open spaces. Pack a picnic and enjoy the shade of Colonels’ Row and Nolan Park, or more than 10 acres of open fields on the historic Parade Grounds.

Tram Tours

Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, there are tram tours around the entire National Historic District. Visitors can use the tram as a shuttle to get from one area of the Island to the other, or take the entire tour and learn about the Island’s history over the past two hundred years.

What’s Happening on Governors Island?

This fall, GIPEC will launch the process to design a new 40 acre park and Great Promenade on the Island. At an exhibit entitled What’s Happening on Governors Island? everyone can give their ideas about what they want to do in these future spaces. Visitors can use markers and post-it notes to write down their thoughts, and post them on a wall. Children who are too young to write are encouraged to use stamps depicting various park activities. All of the ideas written down by visitors will then be given to the design team as they begin to design the new park.

Every weekend, Governors Island also presents a series of concerts, programs, and more. Upcoming events and programs include the Battery Dance Company, a folk concert series presented by Trinity Wall Street and the Governors Island Alliance, an afternoon of arts and crafts, dancing and more with the African Film Festival, and much more. All events are free. For a full listing on what is happening on Governors Island this season, please visit www.govisland.com.

How to Get to Governors Island
Governors Island is open every Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM. On Saturdays and Sundays, the Island is open from 10 AM to 7 PM. Ferries leave from the Battery Maritime Building, on the corner of South and Whitehall Streets, in Lower Manhattan. For up to date ferry schedules and downloadable maps, please visit www.govisland.com.

About the Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation (GIPEC)
The Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation (GIPEC) is responsible for the planning, redevelopment, and ongoing operations for 150 acres of Governors Island. A partnership of New York City and New York State, GIPEC seeks to bring Governors Island back to life, making this island at the center of New York Harbor a destination with great public open space, as well as future education, not for profit and commercial facilities. For more information please visit www.govisland.com.