Frequently Asked Questions Round II FAQs. Is there electric connectivity where the red dots are on the lighting map? No, those poles and associated electrical connections have been removed. Is power available in the park?
Yes, power is available, see the electrical as-builts for Phase 1 of the Park and The Hills. What are the restrictions regarding wiring - are we allowed to bury wires in between different access point locations? On the North Island, an archeologist would need to be consulted. There are no restrictions on the South Island.
In addition to the ferries, should coverage include the ferry terminal in Manhattan (the Battery Maritime Building) as well? Yes, coverage should include the Battery Maritime Building, but it’s not necessary to cover the ferry terminal in Brooklyn. Are there any restrictions on the types of radios and antennas that can be used on the ferries and on the Island? There are no restrictions on the equipment as long as it does not interfere with regular operations. Other than the Battery Maritime Building, are there any other indoor spaces where wi-fi should be available? Indoor spaces that are open to the public should be included for coverage. Those are Nolan Park, the Admiral’s House, and the bathrooms at Building 110.
When the new ferry is introduced in 2019, will that replace the current ferry (the Coursen)? The new ferry will only carry passengers (not vehicles) and will be used to supplement the Coursen, not to replace it. Does Governors Island have an existing internet provider? Verizon currently provides limited service for The Trust and the Harbor School. Verizon plans to provide service for tenants on Governors Island in the future, but not for public use.
There is also currently a Towersteam connection for The Trust’s use that is being abandoned. Would it be possible to establish a secure IT closet in one of The Trust’s buildings? For example, could Liggett Hall be used to store equipment? Yes, it could be possible to establish an IT closet in Liggett Hall or another building on the Island, depending on the structural integrity of the building and access to electricity. The Trust encourages respondents to propose specific locations but to be flexible if it’s necessary to adjust plans. In the event that Liggett Hall is used to house an IT closet, would it be possible to run fiber from one end of the building to the other?
Round I FAQs General. Are the buildings in the Eastern Development Zone coming down? Will all the barracks be demolished? There are currently no immediate plans to demolish the buildings in the Eastern Development Zone. The Trust plans to eventually demolish the barracks, but new construction in the Eastern Development zone is not expected to commence for at least three years. Former barracks and nearly all other buildings in the Island’s Historic District (the northern portion of the Island), are landmarked and available for adaptive reuse.
Will proposers have to work around planned construction? The Trust does not anticipate that any potential construction in the next year will conflict with the wi-fi deployment. Is there any public funding available? No, there is no public funding. The Trust will award up to three Round II finalists $25,000 each for field testing and installation. In addition, the Challenge winner will have the opportunity to negotiate commercial terms for the contract to provide the Governors Island broadband network.
What kind of vehicles are on the island? Vehicles are primarily golf carts for staff use and security purposes. Vendors and event production teams bring in vehicles and trucks for materials transportation as needed with advanced approvals from The Trust and in accordance with The Trust’s vehicle policy.
How high did the water rise on the Island during Hurricane Sandy? In 2012, the Southern portion of Governors Island was under construction. The Trust was in the process of building a new 43-acre resilient park, which involved transforming the topography and elevating the land above the 100-year flood plain.
With the first phase of the park’s elevation having been just completed, the Southern portion of the Island did not experience any flooding during Sandy. In certain portions of the Island’s Historic District and waterfront facing buildings, the water rose to roughly five feet above the seawall. How do people get around the Island? Visitors generally walk or bike around Governors Island. There are three CitiBike docking stations and a bike rental company (Blazing Saddles) on the Island. To keep the Island pedestrian-friendly, private vehicles are prohibited, service vehicles are limited and staff drive golf carts.
What different ways of mobility do you see in the future (such as shuttle buses or cars)? Governors Island today is car-free; visitors travel throughout the Island either by foot or bicycle. The Trust may explore other on-Island transit modes, such as trolley or shuttle, in the coming years. Are there extra ferries for big events? The Trust works with event programmers to arrange supplemental ferry service for large scale events.
What are the regular hours of operation for the ferry? During Public Access season, from May 1- October 31, the ferry operates from 10am to 6pm during the week and 10am to 7pm on the weekends. There are additional ferries from 7am to 10am on all days of the week for staff and approved vendors. Who promotes big events? Organizations that host events on Governors Island are primarily responsible for all promotion. However, The Trust assists through posting events and activities on GovIsland.org as well as social media and press outreach.
Is the goal to have wireless in redevelopment zones as well?. What is the deployment time? Per the challenge schedule, the scheduled deployment period is from March 5-April 16 with the goal of going live on April 17, 2018. How are buildings around the Island used today? Governors Island is currently home to The Trust’s headquarters as well as two year-round tenants – The Urban Assembly New York Harbor School, a 500-student public high school focused on maritime, marine biology and STEM education and the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Arts Center on Governors Island, a year-round artist residency space with artist studios, performance rehearsal spaces and a public gallery. During the season, over a dozen houses in Colonels Row and Nolan Park serve as the home for the Island’s art and culture program which offers free space to organizations that produce programming that is free and open to the public. Please provide the current annual visitor count and peak day numbers?
During the six month 2017 public access season, nearly 800,000 visitors came to Governors Island. Some of the busiest days included the Fourth of July (with 20,497 visitors to the Island), City of Water Day on July 15 (15,845 visitors) and the Jazz Age Lawn Party on June 10-11 and August 26-27 (an average of 11,383 visitors per day over the course of the four-day festival). On weekends during the 2017 season, an average of 25,000 visitors came to Governors Island, with an average of 2,500 visiting on weekdays. Will there be a contribution towards ongoing maintenance, electric or broadband for the wi-fi network? This will be determined based on the design solution and contract agreement with The Trust. Can responses be submitted confidentially or are they open to the public?
The Trust is subject to the Freedom of Information Law. Individuals or firms that submit proposals to The Trust may request that The Trust exempt all or part of such a proposal from public disclosure on the grounds that the proposal contains trade secrets, proprietary information or information that would cause substantial injury to the competitive position of the individual or firm, if disclosed. Is there a preference for free solutions or commercial? The winning proposal will be selected based on the core requirements detailed in the Evaluation Criteria section of the Challenge, including speed of deployment, performance of network architecture and resiliency. The Selection Committee will consider whether solutions are free for the public or commercial, but the committee will ultimately select the proposal that best meets the Evaluation Criteria.
Is the challenge limited to wi-fi or can other wireless technology be deployed? The challenge is limited to wi-fi. Will it be possible for the winner to monetize the final product, for instance, by advertising through the wi-fi or other means? Yes, as noted in the Challenge description. Is the winner expected to provide wi-fi in NPS-owned areas? Is it possible to mount equipment in NPS-owned areas? The Trust’s preference is for wi-fi to cover NPS-owned areas through a perimeter installation, not directly on NPS property.
Will a phased in approach be acceptable based on an agreed upon schedule to completely cover the Island? No, the preliminary winner of the Governors Island Challenge is expected to achieve full-scale deployment by April 2018. If the preliminary winner cannot meet specified deadlines, the $25,000 award will be forfeited in its entirety, and The Trust reserves the right to negotiate a contract with another finalist or select a different vendor. Can policies be enforced including rate (speed) limiting, content filtering, etc.? Yes, respondents may choose to enforce policies such as rate limiting and content filtering. Will a full list of interested providers be made public to promote partnership and teams? Yes, a list of company names will be made available to Round II applicants.
Is there an outline of the expected coverage area? While The Trust controls 150 acres of the Island, the expected coverage area is the entire 172 acres of Governors Island. The Governors Island National Monument, which consists of 22 acres controlled by the National Parks Service, will not permit equipment installation on its grounds, but proposals should cover that area. Additionally, solutions should provide coverage within buildings on the Island, at the Battery Maritime Building waiting room in Manhattan (10 South Street, Slip 7), and on The Trust’s ferry, the Coursen, which services the Island.
Do you want to connect any moving assets or just provide fixed wi-fi? Up to three finalists will be chosen from the applications in Round II based on, but not limited to, wireless access covering the whole Island, at the ferry terminal, on ferries, and in buildings on the island. What are your future plans for the undeveloped spaces? Governors Island’s transformation into a year-round destination for creativity, learning and experimentation is well underway.
The Trust is actively marketing adaptive reuse opportunities within its historic district for commercial, non-profit, hospitality and educational tenants. 33 acres of development parcels will become available for new construction of cultural, educational and commercial facilities in the coming years. What is the next round's evaluation based on (cost, flexibility of solutions, etc.)?
Round II Criteria:. Approach to providing Island-wide Wi-Fi. Use of existing assets. Installation of additional infrastructure. Description of readiness and estimated time for construction. Network architecture, including wireless technologies and backhaul solution. Wi-Fi service levels.
Proposed commercial terms. Any other aspects that may be relevant. Who will run the service on daily basis? The Trust or the chosen party for the project?
The chosen party will run the service. Will the wi-fi be provided to the public for free or as a paid service? The Selection Committee will consider whether solutions are free or paid, but the committee will ultimately select the proposal that best meets the Evaluation Criteria. Do you envision this as managed service that will require a portal in place?
The Challenge envisions high quality broadband service available everywhere on Governors Island with no predisposition to the delivery of the service. If a provider feels that a managed solution which requires a portal with an email address, Linkedin, Facebook, etc. Account sign is the best solution, then they should be able to provide sufficient information supporting that decision.
Can the presentation from the pre-tour presentation be sent to interested parties? Yes, the presentation will be distributed to the site visit attendees. Please provide details on how to access the information. Further instructions for accessing the Data Room will be provided for participants who advance to Round II of the Challenge. As a monetization method, is advertising allowed on the Island? The Trust is open to discussing proposals that involve advertising. If advertising is allowed, what additional physical assets could be made available to advertising to recoup costs?
The Terminal? The Trust is open to discussing advertising on physical assets with the Challenge winner. Would we be permitted to place physical wi-fi kiosks on the Island? Are there any current plans to place digital kiosks on the island? Electric/Light Poles.
Is it possible to install radios on light poles? Is there access to electricity through the light poles? Is it possible to view a detailed map of light pole locations? Respondents can mount radios and other equipment on or within light poles but cannot connect to electricity through the light poles.
Light pole specifications and a map of light poles will be available through the Data Room for respondents who advance to Round II of the Challenge. Are the lights controlled by sensor or a timer? What is the voltage and design of the light pole structures, cabling, conduits, etc.?
Are there light sensors or 24x7 power available on light poles? All light poles are activated by a photocell at the load centers. Light pole specifications will be available through the Data Room for respondents who advance to Round II. Is it possible to mount equipment on the sides of lamp posts, for instance, by strapping equipment to the side of a post? Can new poles be erected? Can temporary poles be erected to support events in the open park areas? Generally, it is possible to mount equipment on existing light poles or to install new or temporary poles. In the Historic District mounting locations are subject to approval by the Landmarks Preservation Commission.
For new light poles, equipment design must meet acceptable aesthetic and structural standards. The Trust will work with teams to obtain the necessary approvals.
Who owns the tall tower/pole? Can it be used for radio installation? How tall is it? The tall tower is owned by the U.S. It may be possible for respondents to mount radios on the tower, with Coast Guard approval. The Trust will work with teams to obtain the necessary approvals. The tower is approximately 60’ to 75’ in height.
Are there any electric outlets available at The Hills? Electrical outlets are mounted to every other light pole at the base of The Hills. However, respondents should plan to draw electricity from load centers, not light poles. Will it be possible to incorporate solar power and battery backup? Yes, it is possible to utilize solar power and battery backup.
The Trust encourages the use of sustainable solutions in the design of the system. Are there light poles along the promenade on the western side of the Island?.
Is the pole/tower at Picnic Point coming down?. Can the provider get access to electric grid? Yes, the selected provider can get access to the electric grid but only for the purpose of powering equipment.
Who owns the light poles and pays the utility bill? Does Governor’s Island control them? The Trust for Governors Island owns the light poles and pays the utility bills. Is there a map showing all active or planned electrical connections? A map will be available in the Data Room for respondents who advance to Round II. What is the size of the conduits feeding the light poles? Information on the conduits will be available in the Data Room for respondents who advance to Round II.
Is it possible to pull fiber through the light pole conduits? It is possible to pull fiber through the light pole conduits, but the process must be field tested before implementation.
Buildings/Grounds. Are the historic buildings landmarked? Are there restrictions on the inside and outside of landmarked buildings? Governors Island contains five individual landmarks: the Commanding Officers Quarters (Building 1), the Governor’s House (Building 2), the Block House (Building 9), Fort Jay and Castle Williams. In addition, the northern portion of Governors Island (north of Division Road) has been designated the Governors Island Historic District.
Certain exterior alterations that are visible to the public are subject to review by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. Please refer to this map to see the aforementioned building numbers:. Which buildings can respondents use to connect to electricity and mount equipment? The Trust will work with respondents to explore connecting to buildings for electricity on a case by case basis.
Respondents may assume that any real estate on Governors Island may be used for wi-fi equipment, with the following exceptions:. National monument property (Fort Jay and Castle Williams), except with permission of the National Parks Service;.
The Coast Guard signal tower located behind 400 Clayton Road (Liggett Hall), except with permission of the Coast Guard;. The Hugh L. Carey Tunnel ventilation building, except with permission of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority;. 111, 112 and 114 Andes Road except with permission of the lessee, QC Terme NY LLC;.
550 Wheeler Ave and 134 Carder Road, except with the permission of the lessee, the New York City School Construction Authority. Can wireless equipment be mounted on the roofs of buildings? Certain exterior alterations are subject to review by the New York City Landmark Preservation Commission Respondents are encouraged to specify in their proposals exactly where they plan to mount equipment.
Will any antennas require Landmark or Public Design Commission Approval, and will Governors Island assist with efforts for approval? Depending on the placement of the antennas, Landmarks Preservation Commission approval may be required. The Trust will assist with efforts for approvals.
Which buildings will be renovated? The Trust is actively seeking proposals for adaptive reuse of the historic buildings located on Governors Island. The New York Harbor School currently occupies the historic buildings at 550 Wheeler Ave and 134 Carder Road. The Trust’s offices are located at 108 Andes Road. Three adaptive reuse projects have been announced to date:. Lower Manhattan Cultural Council’s Arts Center at Governors Island at 110 Andes Road. QCTerme’s day spa at 111-114 Andes Road.
Spaceworks’ studio and performance space at 301 Kimmel Road. Are irrigation stations on parade ground marked on the map? This information will be provided in the Data Room for respondents who advance to Round II. Does The Trust or NPS own the roads on the Island? Is it possible to mount equipment on roads? The Trust owns the roads. It is possible to embed equipment in the roads.
Can proposers put splice boxes inside buildings? Or around the grounds? Splice boxes can be placed outside buildings and on the grounds. Existing Communciations Infrastructure.
![Governors Island Ferry Terminal Construction Governors Island Ferry Terminal Construction](https://letskickscoot.com/KS_art/east_river_03_Governors_Island_ferry_dock.jpg)
What is the existing communications infrastructure in the Island? Verizon has a fiber cable through the Battery Tunnel from Manhattan to Building 140 on Governors Island. The infrastructure is utilized for the Harbor School, Trust for Governors Island offices and the National Park Service offices. What kind of connectivity is available today? Fiber conduits exist to Manhattan.
However, nothing is known about the condition nor the capacity of the conduits and if the responder wants to use the fiber, they would be solely responsible for negotiating acceptable terms. What kind of backhaul do you have existing? Should proving backhaul be part of the proposal? There is no wired backhaul. Providing a wired or wireless backhaul should be part of the proposal if part of the design scheme.
Who is the current wi-fi provider? What broadband/cable/fiber providers are currently servicing Governors Island? Is fiber located anywhere on the island? If so, who owns it?
There is no current public wi-fi provider. Has anyone spoke to Verizon about ordering commercial grade fiber that the wi-fi provider could connect to? The Trust is working with Verizon to install fiber optic cable throughout Governors Island sometime in Spring of 2018 for tenancy. Will The Trust work with the Challenge winner on any future conduit installations for expanded coverage? The Trust will coordinate with the winner for any further public wi-fi coverage if the awardee executes a contract for service with The Trust.
Is the trenching around the island for conduits? There is no existing trenching around the Island for conduits.
Teams may consider microtrenching as part of their design solution. How does the Harbor School get internet? The Harbor School uses Verizon fiber housed in Building 140.
Is there any cellular hardware on the Island? Is there any cellular presence on the Island?. Have wireless providers asked to mount cellular towers?. Can we run fiber in conduit in the tunnel?
Yes, The Trust has an agreement with the TBTA to run fiber through existing conduit in the Battery Tunnel. TBTA approval is required. Is it possible to mount equipment on top of Battery Tunnel tower? The Trust is willing to explore obtaining permission if this is part of a design solution.
Is there a communications center in the Island?. How do ATMs on the Island work? Through dial up? ATMs on the Island operate through cell phone signals. Challenge FAQs.
Who can participate? To be eligible to compete in the Governors Island Connectivity Challenge, a team must be an Eligible Entity.
Governors Island is a 172 acre island in the heart of New York Harbor, only 800 yards from Lower Manhattan and closer to Brooklyn. For almost 200 years Governors Island was a military base, home to the US Army and later the Coast Guard and was not open to the public. In 2003, the island transferred into public ownership and is now managed by the City of New York. It is accessible only by ferry from either Battery Park in Lower Manhattan or Brooklyn. Governors Island attracts summer visitors who come to relax, bike, attend concerts, visit the historic homes and enjoy unique views of the Statue of Liberty, Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. A recently announced Park and Public Space Master Plan will completely transform Governors Island by redeveloping 87 acres of open spaces. West 8, the architectural firm who won the contract, intends to change the entire topography of the southern end of the island, replacing the flat landscape with a hilly one that compliments the skyscrapers of Manhattan.
It will also create new parks, play areas and ball fields as well as adding shade trees, new landscapes and a new 2.2 mile Great Promenade along the waterfront./p Phase I of this project began in March 2012. The general contractor for the project is Turner Construction and the earthwork sub-contractor is D'Onofrio Contracting. Tilcon will be supplying significant amounts of material for the redesign including 250,000 tons of a blend of sand and ¾ inch stone from Clinton Point which will be transported by barge to the island over the course of the year. In addition, we will be transporting 70,000 tons of engineered topsoil, also required for the earthworks, from our Port Washington terminal to the island. This material is produced by another supplier who is unable to transport it. Congratulations to Mike DiRenzo, New York Sales, for his hard work and success on this project.
For more information on Governors Island please visit the park website at and to see architectural drawings of how the island will look after the redevelopment, visit.
In Person Tickets for Governors Island ferries can be most easily purchased in person during ferry hours at the ticket booths at Battery Maritime Building in Manhattan and Pier 6 in Brooklyn. Tickets do not generally sell out in advance, but there are often lines to board, so you should plan to arrive 10-15 minutes before your planned departure. In Advance Ferry tickets may be purchased in advance through the NY Waterways website or mobile app.
Please note that your advance purchase does not guarantee you passage on the ferry. Tickets are available through the. After creating an account, select the 'buy tickets' tab, then select Hudson River Ferries and enter BMB (Battery Maritime Building) or Pier 6 (Brooklyn Bridge Park) as your starting point and Governors Island as your destination. Tickets are also available through the NY Waterways mobile app.
After downloading the app to your device, create an account by creating a username and password. Select the 'buy tickets' tab, then select Hudson River Ferries and enter BMB (Battery Maritime Building) or Pier 6 as your starting point and Governors Island as your destination. Download the app here: / NYC Ferry Service The new NYC Ferry Service provides additional connections to and from Governors Island on Saturdays and Sundays for $2.75 each way. Service via the NYC Ferry South Brooklyn and East River Routes stop at Pier 102 on Governors Island.
For a schedule and more information visit As capacity on NYC Ferry vessels is limited, we recommend planning ahead for your departure from Governors Island if you plan to travel home via NYC Ferry. There is no NYC Ferry Service past 6PM departing Governors Island.
. Click Safari in the Menu Bar at the top of the screen, then Preferences. Click the Privacy tab. Under Website use of location services, click Prompt for each website once each day or Prompt for each website one time only. MacOS may now prompt you to enable Location Services. If it does, follow its instructions to enable Location Services for Safari. Close the Privacy menu and refresh the page.
Try using Current Location search again. If it works, great! If not, read on for more instructions. Back in the Privacy dialog, Click Manage Website Data. And type yelp.com into the search bar. Click the yelp.com entry and click Remove.
You're good to go! Close the Settings tab, reload this Yelp page, and try your search again. If you're still having trouble, check out. You can also search near a city, place, or address instead. One day last summer I was in Brooklyn Bridge Park, which was a regular occurrence that summer.
Governors Island Ferry From Brooklyn
I glanced over to my right and noticed some information about a ferry to Governor's Island. I had never been there before, it was a nice day, it was a nominal fee if my recollection serves me right, I decided it was something to do. So we boarded the boat and set sail, it was a relatively short trip and we got about 50 minutes until the next back to Brooklyn. I got to walk around, eat at good food truck, view some sights, take some pictures, and learn some history all in I didn't have the luxury of going back this past summer, but hopefully next summer I can make my way back there. You can grab the Governors Island ferry from pier 6 in brooklyn bridge park (basically where Atlantic Ave dead ends to the water) during the summer on Saturdays, Sundays, Memorial Day, and Labor Day. Bikes and strollers are allowed on board.
Best of all, it's free if you catch the 11 or 11:30 am! Otherwise it's $2 for adults for all the other ferries (no costs for a return to Brooklyn). Kids under 12 are free. It's a decent sized ferry that has both outdoor/upstairs seating benches and indoor/covered benches as well. It takes less than 8 minutes to go from pier to pier and you'll enjoy views of lower Manhattan, brooklyn, and governors island.
Staff is efficient and friendly at both ends and keep to the schedule. You'll get dropped off at Yankee pier in governors island and from there it's a short walk to wherever you'd like to go on the island (food trucks, playground, hammocks, and Nolan park all less than 5 minutes walk). Can't wait for my next trip!
![Governors island beach Governors island beach](/uploads/1/2/4/2/124237419/255696293.jpg)
It's difficult to find this place on google maps; it will lead you instead to Pier 5 sometimes. The Brooklyn Ferry is at Pier 6 by the playground, just look for NY Waterway. This is open only on Saturdays and Sundays; on the 11AM and 11:30AM rides, it's a free fare. I was late for the Satruday 11:30AM ride and got there at 11:40.
The place to buy tickets isn't even a stand, it's like a little cart that they have with an umbrella. You buy the $2 ticket, which is basically a credit card receipt, and wait on line. After you are in front of the boat, then you hand your 'ticket' to one of the people in the blue shirts.
If you have a bike, it is not an extra cost to have it on there. You will actually get on first if you have a bike.
And, no, baby carriages are not considered bikes. The best thing about having kids is that it's free for them to ride the ferry. The worst thing about not having kids is dealing with the annoying ones that are riding with you (it's like they wanted to find me!). Living in the city makes me happy. No matter the weather, I always enjoy walks and trying new foods and new places. Thankfully in the summer months, I can enjoy Governors Island. There are two ways on and off Gov Island: a ferry to and from Manhattan and one for Brooklyn (there is also an east river ferry but that is $6 so i am not counting it).
The Manhattan ferry is simple, easy to get to, subways are right there, you can wait indoors in the shade. Brooklyn is a different experience (although I do not believe it to be a bad thing). I said earlier that I enjoy walking. Well you better enjoy it if you'd like to get to the departure area. I generally walk into the Brooklyn bridge park entrance much farther north and meander down. There was a foot bridge to allow you to enter closer but it is under construction.
Maybe it is needing to be repaired considering it would rock every step you took. God forbid there was a child gleefully running past you. It essentially turned into that scene from Harry Potter when the death eaters flew around the Millennium Bridge and it fell to pieces. Anyway, I digress. It is a bit of a hike to get there but the park itself is coming together nicely and it is a pleasant walk.
I have not had any issues with the ferry service itself. I usually arrive for the first morning ferry to head into the island. Considering my ghostly skin tone, I am usually completely coated in sunscreen (with extra for reapplication) so waiting outside generally does not bother me at this point. They load everyone fairly efficiently.
I usually head upstairs and hang out near the driver. Two quick things. They dock facing forward so if you want views of the city make sure to keep that in mind for your seating. Secondly, please try to play it cool when they blow the horn. Don't dangle your phone for a selfie until you hear it if you are jumpy. They run for free before noon, but are only 2 bucks if you miss that window. They are only open on the weekends and run every half hour ( ) Feel free to bring your bikes if your an avid rider or a blanket if you are a serial sitter.
Go enjoy some fresh air and some sun. I had just finished walking around Governors Island and took the ferry to Pier 6 in Brooklyn and it was free, woo hoo. The ride was cool and but the ferry itself was old and in some dire need of modernization. This was my first time on the ferry and the experience reminded me of riding the Staten Island ferry.
We waited on a long line to board the ferry but it moved along real quick once people started boarding. I would ride the ferry again since it's really cheap and drops you off in a cool area to check out other sites in the city near downtown Brooklyn.
So ridiculous. Went to a concert at Governors island and the security searching everyone getting on the ferry were just utterly ridiculous.
No other word. Couldn't bring water, and they had the nerve to throw people's cigarettes out if the pack was open. If it was closed you could bring it. One cig missing and that's it. Just a pathetic rule. And they took forever when getting off the island after the concert.
Two minute ride and they sat there for thirty minutes. Shows there are fun. George Clinton and Parliament funkadelic kicked ass. Did many of their classic funk tunes. Heavy duty dance funk show but ugh the ferry security checkpoint were out of control. If you can't find the start of the ferry initially crossing into Pier 6, look out for the big yellow umbrellas that signal the dock. There's no announcement of boarding so keep an eye out for when the line begins to form or you may miss your trip.
The ride of the ferry to Governors Island is fairly short (about 10 min) which makes me wonder why the ferry doesn't run a bit more frequently, especially looking at how packed the boats gets when folks head to the island. The no charge admission is a welcomed perk, especially with how much you'll be spending once you arrive on the island. Three stars only because I liked the ferry ride. We waited about 2 hours for the ferry TO Governors Island for the Parked: Food Truck Fest. Frustrated after waiting and waiting and waiting, we headed back to the mainland and waited another 40 minutes to get back to Brooklyn. Because the captain of the boat decided to turn around and take more people from Brooklyn to Governors Island, where they couldn't get food anyway, instead of taking people from Governors Island to Brooklyn on his way. We were left waiting, and hungry, and cranky.
The Governors Island Ferry that leaves from Brooklyn is far less organized than its Manhattan counterpart. There is no air-conditioned building lined with posters of island activities for the summer. There is no clearly delineated line system with security staff. at every point to guide your way. This ferry is not as punctual; it seemingly runs on a continuous basis, rather than every half hour on the half hour. Download spiderman friend or foe pc game setup download.
Or perhaps it is just perpetually behind schedule. In addition, it seems to be much smaller, which tends to leave angry people at the end of the line.
On my last trip, I was literally the last person to get on the boat, which was glorious for me, but I'm sure highly irritating to the poor bastards behind me.There is also no bag check, which means that if you were going to smuggle illicit substances over to the Island, this is probably a better bet. Not that I would ever do that. I am a HUGE fan of this ferry and of Governor's Island! I want more people to know about it, but I'd also like to keep it quiet since the island is so peaceful.
The ferry is $2 unless you get there early in the morning- check the website for details. The ride is super short, maybe a little less than 10 minutes. They run on time and you can catch that nice river breeze. Governor's Island itself has plenty to do - kayak, ride bikes, explore some historic sites, bring your kids to the playground, swing on hammocks, etc.
If you are in New York City and are sick of the hustle and bustle of the city, go check out Governor's Island. Free is always good! But it runs on a whenever-ish kinda schedule. On a hot day, prepare to roast if your sitting/standing on the upper level, plus there's no AC on the lower level. However it is very convenient for Brooklynites and the ride is virtually 5 minutes long. I love that they offer bike space however I feel sorry for folks coming on with babies and strollers because then the space becomes hot and cramped. Nonetheless, its a free service and as the saying goes, you get what you pay for.
I had read others talk about the pros and cons of this free ferry from Brooklyn to Governors Island and I was set for an adventure. I had been to Governors Island from Manhattan, but I wanted this to be easier and better.
Taking our car, there was a parking garage right next to Pier 6 and the lovely park. It cost $20 for the entire day, which I think it extremely reasonable (if you are cheap, you can try to find a free spot in Brooklyn Heights - good luck).
We did go around 11am and came back around 3:30, so other peoples experiences might be different, but we never waited long, the trip was quick and professional and I would certainly do it again. Friends of ours took the Water Taxi and that was much longer and cost money. Overall, a great way to travel to an oasis in NY harbor.
This former Army and Coast Guard base, located in New York Harbor, is open to the public from late May through September. It is accessible by ferries out of the Battery Maritime Building in Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridge Park in DUMBO.
Much of the island is under construction as the, a not-for-profit created by New York City, develops 30 acres of new parkland. But there are plenty of areas open to visitors, and great birding opportunities. Mature trees and shrubs in Nolan Park and Colonels Row, the grassy lawn of the Parade Ground and the waters around the island provide a variety of habitats for year-round and seasonal residents. BIRDS During the summer months a breeding colony of Common Terns takes over the Yankee and Tango Piers on the southeast side of the island. Barn and Northern Rough-winged Swallows also breed on the island and can be seen swooping over the Parade Ground or feeding their young atop the barracks of Ft. Jay and at Picnic Point on the southern-most end of the island. Picnic Point also offers spectacular views of the Statue of Liberty.
Black-crowned Night Herons roost in trees along Buttermilk Channel on the Brooklyn side of the island during the day. Great Egrets, Great Blue Herons and even Glossy Ibises can be seen flying over the island as they move about the wetlands of New York City and northern New Jersey. Red-tailed Hawks and American Kestrels live on the island year round. Birding here is especially rewarding in September as thousands of migrants, from tiny wrens and warblers to Ospreys and Northern Harriers, stop on or pass over Governors Island on their journey along the Atlantic flyway. Nolan Park and the Parade Ground are especially rich birding areas during migration. The island also provides habitat for an array of dragonflies and butterflies in summer and autumn. Species confirmed to breed on Governors Island include: Canada Goose, Mallard, American Black Duck, Killdeer, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Mourning Dove, Barn Swallow, Northern Rough-Winged Swallow, American Robin, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Northern Cardinal, Chipping Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Common Grackle, House Sparrow, House Finch.
Other species, such as Chimney Swifts and American Kestrels, probably breed here, but nests and young have not been recorded to date. Parade Ground, 2007 © Sherry Felix Access to many parts of the island is currently limited but will change as projects are completed. Nolan Park, the Parade Ground, Picnic Point and much of the perimeter of the island are expected to continue to be accessible. Yankee Pier is accessible to pedestrians, but the tern breeding area is fenced off. The birds can be viewed from the open portion of the pier or from the island. Tango Pier is fenced off, but terns can be viewed from the island.
Though Governors Island is currently open only from May through September, plans are to eventually open it to visitors year-round, providing opportunities for excellent birding during spring and fall migration and in the winter months. Updates about access to additional areas and longer open seasons will be provided as they become available.
The future of Governors Island includes the creation of more parkland. This will include a 10-acre Hammock Grove, which will include 1,500 new trees. A small wetland is planned for the southern end of the island. These and other new natural features will hopefully make the island even more amenable to birds and other wildlife. However, the demolition of island structures to make way for parkland has caused some disruption and displacement of nesting birds, particularly gulls and swallows.
At this time, there do not appear to be plans to demolish the Yankee and Tango Piers. For the time being, at least, the Common Tern colony appears to be safe. Birding Tours Occasional birding tours are offered by the National Park Service, which shares the island with the. The Park Service oversees the 22-acre, which mainly consists of Ft. Jay and Castle Williams, historic harbor fortifications that are worth visiting. The Park Service also conducts an annual bird census, usually in late September, with help from volunteers. Amenities on the Island.
Castle Williams, 2007 © Sherry Felix Food vendors are on the island during the open season, mostly clustered in Colonels Row and at Picnic Point. They sell everything from snack food and hotdogs to gourmet sandwiches.
Potable water is not available on the island, so visitors should bring plenty of water or purchase it from vendors. There are restrooms in building 110, just to the right of the ferry landing at Soissons Dock, where Manhattan ferries land. Portable restroom facilities are also located throughout the island. It should be noted that birding can be quite challenging on some summer weekends as several events include loud music and large crowds. Visit the and the websites for a list of events to enjoy — or to avoid if your visit only includes birding. The Manhattan ferry terminal is located at 10 South Street, the building to the east (left) of the Staten Island Ferry terminal.
By subway, take the 1 to South Ferry, 4 or 5 to Bowling Green, or the R to Whitehall. By bus, take the M5, M15 or M20.
Check the website for ferry days and times. From Brooklyn, the ferry leaves from Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 6, located at the western terminus of Atlantic Avenue. The closest subway stations are Borough Hall (2, 3, 4, 5), Court Street (R), or Jay Street (A, C, F), then walk a few blocks southwest. By bus, take the B63. Note: For the 2014 season, the island will be accessible by ferry from Manhattan weekdays as well as weekends. Brooklyn ferries will still run only on weekends.
A $2 round trip fare ($1 for seniors, kids free) will be imposed, but ferries Saturday and Sunday mornings will be free. Check the website for the latest ferry schedule and information. The Trust has opened 30 acres of new park land, with another 10 acres under construction.