For immediate release:
July 1, 2009

Contact:
Elizabeth Rapuano: 212-440-2205 | erapuano@empire.state.ny.us


Free Fourth of July Weekend Fun on Governors Island    
Come see the Statue of Liberty from Picnic Point on Governors Island

Free ferries from Brooklyn and Manhattan on Saturday

Governors Island is the perfect place to enjoy free summer activities and a great view of the Statue of Liberty, this Fourth of July weekend, the Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation (GIPEC) today announced. Visitors to Governors Island can enjoy the Island’s newest public space, Picnic Point, where they can bike, walk, swing in a hammock, and relax in an Adirondack chair, all within sight of the Statue of Liberty. Governors Island is open from 10 AM to 5 PM on July 3, and 10 AM to 7 PM on July 4-5.

Governors Island’s location in the center of New York Harbor provides visitors with stunning vistas of Brooklyn, the East River bridges, Lower Manhattan, Liberty and Ellis Islands, and the Verrazzano Narrows Bridge.  Visitors take a free ferry ride to the Island. Once on the Island, they can bike or stroll around the entire 2.2 mile waterfront promenade, and also enjoy a wide variety of free programs and activities.

On the Fourth of July weekend, visitors can bike along five miles of car-free bike paths, picnic on dozens of acres of open green space, play a free round of artist designed miniature golf, and experience dozens of art installations around the Island.  

“This holiday weekend, Governors Island is celebrating with all kinds of free activities,” said GIPEC President Leslie Koch. “We hope that visitors will come to the Island to visit Picnic Point and nap in a hammock, sprawl on the grass, and enjoy the best view of the Statue of Liberty in New York City.” 

On July 4, Water Taxi Beach, Governors Island’s new temporary dining and entertainment venue, will open to the public for the first time. Visitors can come to Water Taxi Beach to purchase food and drinks, and also enjoy views of Lower Manhattan and the Harbor.   

On Friday, July 3, a free ferry will run between Manhattan and Governors Island every hour. On Saturday, a free ferry will run between Manhattan and Governors Island every half hour, and a free ferry will also run between Brooklyn and Governors Island every 20 minutes. On Sunday, ferry service will run from Manhattan once an hour.  

From Friday, July 3 – Sunday July 5, Governors Island offers the following free activities, exhibitions and programs:

Free Bike Fridays. On Friday, July 3, borrow a bike for free and experience five miles of car-free biking. Visitors can also bring their own bikes from Friday – Sunday, and can rent them on the weekends. Free Bike Fridays is sponsored by Bike and Roll™.

Creative Time presents Plot 09: This World and Nearer Ones
Friday – Sunday, see Creative Time’s exhibition of 19 works by international artists. These site specific pieces are located in one of the Island’s churches, its movie theatre, on its lawns and green spaces, and in historic buildings. For more information, visit www.creativetime.org.

Children’s Museum of the Arts (CMA) Free Art Island Outpost Program. Friday – Sunday, CMA runs free hands-on children’s art programs out of an historic building in Nolan Park. Visitors are invited to drop by the house between 11 AM to 3 PM each day to enjoy a range of arts based activities. This week's art theme is Stars & Stripes to celebrate the Fourth of July! Projects will include spin art fireworks; craft stick flags, Uncle Sam hats and Star mobiles

Artist designed miniature golf. Visitors can play a free round of artist designed miniature golf from Friday - Sunday. A different artist designed each of the 18 holes. The course was organized by Figment.

City of Dreams – Interactive Sculpture Garden. Come explore fantastical pieces of sculpture in all shapes, sizes and materials. In the spirit of FIGMENT, these works are participatory and interactive, inviting you to think, act, and respond. For more information, visit www.FIGMENTnyc.org

The Sculptors Guild presents “Formative Lines: Working in Drawing and Sculpture”
An exhibition featuring drawings and sculptures from 25 members of the Sculptors Guild. To learn more, please visit http://www.sculptorsguild.org.

Painting Governors Island
In historic "Building 408," eight painters exhibit their watercolors and oil paintings made on- site, on Governors Island.

Picnicking. Governors Island has dozens of acres of green space for visitors to picnic and play. Picnic Point is the Island’s newest public space and is eight acres of grassy lawn, featuring hammocks, Adirondack chairs, and stunning views of the Statue of Liberty – the perfect backdrop for the fourth of July. Visitors can bring their own food, or purchase food from a variety of vendors or at Water Taxi Beach. Visitors cannot bring alcohol to the Island. Alcohol is available for purchase at Water Taxi Beach, but must be consumed only at Water Taxi Beach.  

Governors Island closes at 7 PM on July 4.

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 from Manhattan leave from the Battery Maritime Building, on the corner of South and Whitehall Streets, in Lower Manhattan. On select weekends, a free ferry will also leave from the Fulton Ferry landing in Brooklyn. Ferry schedules change by weekend. For up to date ferry schedules and downloadable maps, please visit www.govisland.com.

Ferry schedule for July 4 weekend

About Biking on Governors Island
Visitors are invited to bring their bikes to Governors Island every Friday-Sunday through October 11. The Island is open for visitors from 10 AM to 5 PM on Friday and 10 AM to 7 PM on Saturday and Sunday.

Adult and children’s bikes are free on Fridays for up to one hour. Surreys can be rented on Fridays for a fee.

Bikes and surreys can be rented on Saturday and Sunday. Rental rates are as follows:

For comfort bicycles on Saturdays and Sundays:

• $15 for 2 hours, $20 all day

For children’s bicycles on Saturdays and Sundays:

• $12 for 2 hours, $15 all day

On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, visitors may also rent:

• Small QuadCycle $20 for up to one hour, $30 up to two hours
• Large QuadCycle $25 for up to one hour, $35 for up to 2 hours
• Tandem bikes $25 for two hours, $35 all day
   

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.