The Hills on Governors Island to Open in Summer 2016

The Hills are the culmination of the award winning Governors Island Park and Public Space Master Plan, designed by West 8. Released in 2010, the park master plan sets the stage for the Island’s future redevelopment while ensuring quality public spaces.

Orignially scheduled to open to the public in 2017 “We are thrilled to announce that the Hills’ construction is ahead of schedule,” said Leslie Koch, President of The Trust for Governors Island. “Thanks to an unseasonably warm fall and rigorous construction management, we can complete and open the Hills to the public in 2016 instead of next year.”

Made of recycled construction debris and clean fill material, the four Hills rise 25 to 70 feet above the Island. The summit of Outlook Hill will provide visitors with a 360-degree panorama of the Statue of Liberty, New York Harbor and the Lower Manhattan skyline.

The Hills add ten acres of green space, 43,000 new shrubs, more than 860 new trees, four slides, pedestrian paths, lawns and the Outlook, with a 360 degree unforgettable view.

– Outlook Hill, rising 70 feet above the Island will be New York City’s newest must-do destination. From the summit, visitors will enjoy breathtaking views of the Statue of Liberty and New York Harbor. Outlook Hill features a winding, accessible path, a granite scramble made of blocks from the Island’s seawall, and steep shrub-covered slopes.
– Slide Hill hosts four slides for nestled in shady trees. Rising 40 feet high, Slide Hill features the longest slide in New York City.
– Discovery Hill, also at 40 feet, is the setting for the convergence of nature and art with a new permanent site-specific sculpture by acclaimed British artist, Rachel Whiteread.
– Grassy Hill provides a 25 foot high gentle grassy slope overlooking the Island’s new and historic landscapes and the Manhattan skyline.

In conjunction with the opening of The Hills, the 2.2 mile promenade around the edge of the Island will reopen to visitors for biking and walking for the first time since the Island’s construction program began in 2012. 

Later this spring, the Trust will announce a schedule of construction preview tours and other events for the public and civic groups as well as more details about opening date and events. For more information, visit www.govisland.com.