For immediate release:
Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Contact:
Elizabeth Rapuano: 212-440-2205


Design Process for Future Governors Island Park and Great Promenade Begins with New Opportunities for Public Input  
New Yorkers will have multiple ways to participate via blog, Flickr, Post It™ Notes, photo booth, online survey, workshops and more

The design process for the new Governors Island Park and Great Promenade is beginning, officials from the Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation (GIPEC) today announced. As the design process gets underway this month, the public is invited to share their thoughts and ideas for what they would like to see in these new open spaces. There are multiple ways for the public to become informed and involved in the park design process both online and in person, including a new blog, a survey, facilitated workshops and an exhibition on Governors Island. All ideas will be shared with the design team as they craft the park master plan.

The design team, led by West 8, will create a park master plan for three new open spaces on Governors Island: a new 40 acre park on the Island’s southern end, a 2.2 mile Great Promenade around the Island, and rejuvenated areas in the Historic District.

The park master plan will be a set of drawings, models and renderings that depict the fundamental concepts for the design of the future park. It will illustrate what kinds of activities will take place in the park; the places, elements, and habitats of the park; their relative size, and their general look and feel.

The park master plan will be unveiled prior to the 2009 season on Governors Island.

“Governors Island is a resource for New York State and New York City,” said Avi Schick, GIPEC Chair. “We hope that as many people as possible provide their ideas and feedback for the future park and Great Promenade on Governors Island.”

“We want as many people as possible to give us their ideas for the future park on Governors Island,” said Leslie Koch, President of GIPEC. “With the Governors Island blog, online survey, Flickr and more, we are using the web in new and innovative ways so that everyone can provide their thoughts about what activities they would like to experience here in the center of New York Harbor.”

The Governors Island blog (www.govislandblog.com) is the newest way for people to get information about Governors Island and the park design process. The blog will be updated weekly. Members of the public can subscribe to stay informed throughout the process and can post comments and reactions.

Visitors can also picture themselves in the future park on Governors Island by taking a photo in front of images of these future open spaces. They can visit the fun and engaging photo booth that is located just up the hill from the ferry on Governors Island. Photos are uploaded onto flickr.com and visitors can view and download the pictures by visiting www.govislandblog.com. The photo booth will be open for two upcoming Saturdays, on September 20 and October 4 from noon until 3 PM.

Since the end of May when the Island opened, the public has used Post It™ Notes and rubber stamps to provide their thoughts in an exhibition entitled “What’s Happening on Governors Island.” To date, hundreds have provided their ideas for what they would like to see in the new park. Ideas range from outdoor yoga classes, urban beaches, public art, and much more. The exhibit will remain on display through October 12.

On Saturday, September 27 and Sunday, September 28, members of the design team will host a workshop to get the public’s feedback. The workshop includes a tour of the site of the future park, currently off limits to the general public. Visitors have the option of taking the tour on a Governors Island tram or by bike. After the tour, a facilitated conversation will allow individuals to give their feedback and impressions. The entire workshop, including the tour, will last two hours. Attendance is limited.

The workshop will be offered at 10:15 AM, 12:45 PM and 3:15 PM and will end in time for participants to take the 12:30 PM, 3:30 PM or 5:30 PM ferries, respectively. Workshops begin in front of Building 110 on Governors Island. Members of the public who wish to participate in the workshop must make reservations in advance by emailing ecavanagh@empire.state.ny.us.

As the design process kicks off, another way for the public to give comments is through a new survey about what kinds of activities people would most like to enjoy in the future park. The survey can be completed on Governors Island or online at http://tinyurl.com/govislandsurvey.

“We encourage everyone to give their thoughts and ideas to the design team for Governors Island’s parks and public spaces,” said Rob Pirani, Executive Director of the Governors Island Alliance. “Over the next several months, there will be many ways in which the public can get involved and tell the planners what they want to see on the Island.”

The Governors Island Park and Great Promenade is being designed by an acclaimed team, West 8 / Rogers Marvel Architects / Diller Scofidio + Renfro / SMWM. The Governor and Mayor announced the team’s selection last December. Over the next several months, Governors Island staff and members of the design team will be meeting with community boards and groups for their feedback as well.

The public can stay informed about additional opportunities for public input that will be scheduled over the next several months by subscribing to www.govislandblog.com and leaving their email address. For general information about Governors Island, please visit www.govisland.com.

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 leave from the Battery Maritime Building, on the corner of South and Whitehall Streets, in Lower Manhattan. For up to date ferry schedules and downloadable maps, please visit www.govisland.com.

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.