Daily News: Governors Island to Stay Open Year-Around in ‘Huge Step Forward’ for NYC Public Space

The city that never sleeps is getting an island that never closes.

Governors Island, the 172-acre oasis off the southern tip of Manhattan, will stay open seven days a week all year round starting this fall, Mayor de Blasio announced Tuesday.

The island is usually only open to the public between May 1 and Oct. 31, but de Blasio said in his daily morning briefing that the city is revising that to make sure people can come visit during the winter months as well.

“It’s going to be year-round that people can go and enjoy everything on Governors Island,” the mayor said.

To ensure access, de Blasio also said the NYC Ferry service will add a year-round Governors Island stop to its South Brooklyn route.

The island, once upon time home to a military base, features sprawling green fields and trails for hiking. In recent years, a food court, complete with a beer garden, has been opened on the island, and events, including music festivals, take place annually.

“It’s an amazing place,” de Blasio said. “It’s a great place to go and get a break from the hustle and bustle of the city.”

State Sen. Brian Kavanagh, a Democrat whose district includes Governors Island, said keeping the East River destination open year-around is “a huge step forward” in expanding access to public space in the city.

Speaking on the mayor’s briefing, Kavanagh described the island as “a jewel right in our harbor.”

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