nyc governors island reopens

Governors Island will reopen for the season on Wednesday, July 15 with new rules including a FREE reservation system for the ferry and face masks required.

It’s a big week for New York City parks, since the High Line reopens the next day, on Thursday, July 16, also with a FREE reservation requirement.

Normally, Governors Island opens for the season on Memorial Day Weekend, but we all know that 2020 is not a normal year.

Starting July 15, Governors Island will be open from 10AM to 6PM on weekdays and 10AM to 7PM on weekends, with Manhattan ferries running every day from the Battery Maritime Building at 10 South St.

Of course, there are new rules for social distancing, including on the ferries to the park, for such activities as biking, birding, picnicking and more.

High Line Reopens with FREE Timed Reservations

New Rules for Visiting Governors Island

The Trust for Governors Island has implemented new health, safety and social distancing protocols to ensure a safe environment for all visitors, including:

Limiting capacity on the ferry with a new ticket reservation system to ensure social distancing on ferries and the Island.

Visitors will select times and reserve ferry tickets in advance through the new system.

The reservation system launches today, Friday, July 10, at 10AM this Friday on govisland.org.

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.

Free Ferries for Qualifying Visitors

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

This season, 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 in 2020.

There will be no Brooklyn Ferry Service from Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park.

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

Governors Island ferries are always free for:

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

Getting to Governors Island from Manhattan

The city’s NYC Ferry will offer additional connections with a dedicated weekend shuttle from Wall Street/Pier 11 that will run roughly every 30 minutes beginning July 18.

Tickets are $2.75 or free by transfer from any NYC Ferry route.

All visitors who arrive at Governors Island on NYC Ferry are strongly encouraged to depart on NYC Ferry.

NYC Ferry riders are also required to wear a mask or face covering at all times.

For ticketing info and a full schedule, visit www.ferry.nyc.

For more information on Governors Island’s 2020 season, click here or visit govisland.org.