! Alert

Due to a planned New York Harbor closure and planned street closures in Lower Manhattan, Governors Island will close at 3PM on Friday, July 4, 2025. More info.

Due to a planned New York Harbor closure and planned street closures in Lower Manhattan, Governors Island will close at 3PM on Friday, July 4, 2025. More info.

Hammock Grove with Liggett Terrace in the background, photo by Jake Dobkin/Gothamist

Our Natural Areas

Gov­er­nors Island’s nat­ur­al areas are care­ful­ly designed and main­tained with a focus on cli­mate-resilient plants native to New York City’s eco-region that pro­vide max­i­mum ben­e­fits to Island vis­i­tors and inhab­i­tants – human and oth­er­wise – in all sea­sons. Our team inte­grates exper­i­men­tal envi­ron­men­tal solu­tions into every­day land­scape care so our nat­ur­al areas can ben­e­fit their local ecosys­tem while pro­vid­ing unin­ter­rupt­ed oppor­tu­ni­ties for peo­ple look­ing to recon­nect with nature in a safe, acces­si­ble way. Through these eco­log­i­cal hor­ti­cul­ture prac­tices, we have grown robust native habi­tats across the Island, cre­at­ing a resilient, immer­sive, thriv­ing open space for local wildlife and New York­ers alike.

Ornamental Flower Gardens

Liggett Terrace, Nolan Park

Intentionally planted areas in the Island’s historic district.

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Naturalistic & Immersive Landscapes

Hammock Grove, The Hills

A model in sustainable, built urban natural areas.

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Turf & Lawns

Parade Ground, Play Lawns

Accessible outdoor space for recreation and community.

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