pics and post by kristen bartley
Whether one’s feeling toward the Clinton reign during the 90’s is love, hate or a general indifference, Governors Island is one thing as New Yorkers we have to thank Slick Willy for. During a helicopter ride over the city in ‘95, Clinton inquired about the 172-acre urban oasis just south of the tip of Manhattan. When he found out that it had been abandoned by the federal government, he thought it should belong to the people of New York, and suggested a purchase price of $1.
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As with many other parts of the city, the island first belonged to the Dutch, who named it Noten Eylant, or Nutten Island. The island was later ceded to the British, from which the island’s current name originates. During the 1700’s the British used the island as a home for colonial Governors. The residence of Lord Cornbury, Queen Ann’s cousin, still rests on the island. The island was finally surrendered to the United States during the momentous year of 1776. For over a century, Governors Island was designated as a United States Army post and then most recently home to the US Coast Guard, which operated the island as a self-sufficient community, even boasting a Burger King and Super 8 Motel. In the mid-90’s the island was yet again, abandoned.
Governors Island was officially turned over to the people of New York in 2003, but plans for its use, for the most part, have been left in a permanent state of T.B.D. Proposals have ranged from an artist’s colony, home to a college campus, to Riker’s Jr. The current plan is to turn the island into over 40 acres of green space, restore many of the historic buildings, and create a 2-mile waterfront promenade.
I was lucky enough to make several visits to the island this year and witness part of this mystical transitioning from an historic time capsule to an urban playground. This was the first year in which the island in its entirety was open to the public, beckoning visitors with bike rentals, art installations, hammocks with unrivaled views of Lady Liberty, and a new Water Taxi Beach.
I rode my bike over from Brooklyn on GI’s last open day for the year. The island was bustling, especially in comparison to my visit earlier in the season. The sunny afternoon brought back feelings of youthful summers, peaceful and simple, a perfect city retreat. All around people were lying shady patches of grass, flying kites, and exploring the old forts and general’s quarters. Then as the setting sun drew visitors back toward the ferry dock, an eerie blanket began wrapping itself around the island. Showing a very different side of it, one of decay and neglect, serving as a reminder of the rich history of Governors Island and the transitioning still taking place. I look forward to May when the next season commences and to see what improvements have been made, but also hope to discover that much of the island’s ghostly character has been left intact.
