On the southern tip of Manhattan sits Governors Island, the 172-acre island in the heart of New York Harbor. The transformation there has been extremely impressive, and that’s thanks to a unique project that’s been in the works for the past 10 years. Since winning an international competition in 2006, West 8 has been hard at work with their plans for the Governors Island project. Resurrecting historical parks has been the “plan” in NY for years now, and no one thought it was possible to develop the site aptly named Governors Island. Who knew?
Tricking the eye into seeing man-made elevations is part of what makes Adriaan Gueze and his team so good at what they do. Ten years ago, the view from Governors Island would have looked much, much more different… scattered, debunk buildings nearby and flat as flat can be. Now the land on which Governors Island sits is beautifully developed.
Our favorite part of the park opened just last month and is called: “The Hills”. “The Hills” are the culmination of the award-winning Governors Island Park and Public Space Master Plan, and designed by acclaimed landscape architects West 8. Rising 25 to 70 feet above the Harbor, “The Hills” will offer lush rolling landscapes, grassy overlooks, exhilarating slides, unforgettable views, and a permanent installation by British artist Rachel Whiteread. The tallest “Hill”, Outlook Hill, provides visitors an extraordinary 360-degree panoramic experience of the Harbor from which you can see Liberty Island, the Brooklyn Bridge and Jersey City. The opening of the Hills marks a major milestone in the transformation of Governors Island from an abandoned military base into an essential destination for New Yorkers and visitors alike.
Gueze likes to say it’s isn’t one park, but seven different parks with seven completely different designs. Add this to your list when in NYC… abandoned military station no longer!
An aerial view of Governors Island.
Photo courtesy Pen America