For immediate release:
September 17, 2007

Contact:
Elizabeth Rapuano, 212-440-2205 (o)/ 914-830-1565 (c)

GOVERNORS ISLAND ENDS MOST SUCCESSFUL SUMMER SEASON EVER    
Island welcomes 55,000 visitors, twice as many as 2006, up from 8,000 in 2005 

The Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation (GIPEC) today announced the conclusion of the most successful summer season ever on Governors Island. From June 2nd through September 2nd, 55,000 people visited the Island to enjoy a diverse array of concerts and programs, picnic, ride a bike, take in extraordinary views of Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn, and tour the National Historic District with Rangers from the National Park Service. The number of visitors to Governors Island in 2007 is twice the number from the previous year.

"New Yorkers' increasing embrace of Governors Island as a special place makes our plans to maximize the Island’s recreational, historical, educational and economic development potential all the more exciting," said Pat Foye, chairman of Empire State Development/Downstate.

“Governors Island is at the center of New York’s revitalized Harbor District,” said Dan Doctoroff, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Rebuilding. “We are pleased that access to Governors Island has grown immensely over the past two years with almost seven times as many visitors coming to the Island this summer as in the summer of 2005.”

Visitors to the Island hailed from every borough of New York City, and from more than 30 countries around the world, ranging from China and India to Spain and South Africa. For the first time ever, the Island was open on both Saturday and Sunday, and visitors could tour the whole National Historic District, which was never before entirely open to the public, and view the inside of historic homes in Nolan Park and on Colonel’s Row. Additionally, more than 2,000 visitors brought their bikes to enjoy a new, one mile bike loop -- a rare opportunity for car-free cycling in New York City. The ferry ride and all programming on the Island were free.

“This summer has been an extraordinary success for Governors Island and truly demonstrates that the Island is coming back to life,” said Leslie Koch, President of GIPEC. “We thank our numerous programming partners who worked closely with us to welcome visitors from across New York City and the world to experience all that Governors Island has to offer.”

“I am proud to have been able to help Governor’s Island, located in my Assembly District, have its most successful summer ever,” said NYS Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. “The decision to be open to the public on weekends allowed thousands more people who live, work and visit our Lower Manhattan community to enjoy this precious open space resource. Congratulations on great success with the new weekend summer schedule and I look forward to an even better turnout next year.”

NYC Council Member Alan Gerson said, "It was wonderful to work with the Governors Island Alliance to kick off the summer season on the Island with the Family Festival. Governor’s Island is a jewel in the harbor that I hope all New Yorkers will discover and come to love."

Over the summer, GIPEC worked with partners to create unique and diverse programming every Saturday between June and August. Programs included jazz concerts, cultural festivals, a folk concert series with Trinity Church Wall Street and the Governors Island Alliance, a world music concert series with the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, lectures by the City University of New York (CUNY), and the Figment art festival. GIPEC also partnered with the Downtown Little League to use Governors Island’s baseball fields throughout June, and with the Downtown Boat House, to allow kayakers to land on the Island.

“It is great that New Yorkers from every neighborhood in Manhattan – from the Lower East Side to Washington Heights are spending a day on Governors Island, enjoying the free concerts and programs, bike riding, and tours,” said Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer.

“Because of our proximity and shared history, Brooklyn embraces Governors Island as an extension of our borough—another one of our great neighborhoods,” said Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. “Visitors can of course enjoy breathtaking views of both the Brooklyn and Manhattan skylines while participating in cultural and educational events or simply relaxing in the harbor breeze. Congratulations on a successful summer, and we will surely keep sending Brooklynites and eager tourists your way!”

“Thanks to the Mayor and the Governor, 2007 was the best summer ever for people to discover Governors Island” said Rob Pirani, Executive Director of the Governors Island Alliance. “We were thrilled to work closely with GIPEC, the National Park Service and our partners at Trinity Church to bring the ‘Folks on the Island’ concert series and other festivals to the Island for thousands to enjoy.”

The Island was also home to GIPEC’s park design competition exhibit, “The Park at the Center of the World: Five Visions for Governors Island.” This exhibit features five architecture teams competing to design a future park and promenade on Governors Island, displaying the five team’s ideas and providing an opportunity for public feedback on their proposals. A winning team will be announced in the next few months.

About 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. The National Park Service owns and operates an additional 22 acres of the 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.