Posted in New York Nature July 27, 2016 by

This One New York Island Just Received An Extreme Transformation… And You’ll Want To Visit

There’s nothing more eye-catching than seeing a wide open space while you’re visiting the area of our Big Apple. Just below Manhattan you’ll find the historical Governors Island, an amazing piece of New York that’s full of adventure and new things to discover. Over the last two hundred years the island has undergone some drastic transformations, many of which have taken place within the last several years.

Just opening up to the public on July 19th, this island has received an extreme transformation that you’ll want to see in person:

Receiving four new man made hills, Governors Island has creates a unique outdoor adventure.
Vijay S./Yelp
In the works for several years now, The Hills of Governors Islands have been greatly anticipated! The new man made hills give visitors breathtaking views of the New York Harbor, Statue of Liberty, and city skyline. Not open all year long, Governors Island can be visited from now until the end of September.
So, which hill is right for you?
Vijay S./Yelp
All four hills create a unique space for visitors, appealing to all ages and offering different attractions!

Grassy Hill: First up, we have the perfect place for visitors to enjoy a picnic or take a nap! The first hill you'll encounter on your visit to this New York island, the hill raises 25 feet and overlooks other areas of the park.

Slide Hill: Possibly of our favorite hill of all, Slide Hill features... you guessed it, four incredible slides! Not only a great space to bring kids, the hill is also home to New York City's largest slide! Out of the four slides, New York City's largest is 57-feet long and an amazing three stories tall. Wow! Slide Hill rises 40 feet and is a fun area to explore.

Discovery Hill: Also rising 40 feet, the hill is home to many of the 42, 963 shrubs you'll find planted through the four hills of Governors Island! Yay shrubs! Another amazing thing you'll find on this hill? The amazing concrete installation created by British artist Rachel Whiteread.

Outlook Hill: Last but certainly not least, the largest hill of them all! Rising a total of 70 feet, the hill features a rock scramble that gives visitors a shortcut to the top of the hill. The magnificent scramble is made up of granite blocks that were taken from the island's old seawall, continuing to keep New York's history alive. From the top of the hill, you'll have 360-degree views of New York City and its beautiful surrounding attractions.

To see what the island’s amazing transformation looks like now that it’s completed, watch the stunning footage captured below:

Want to discover more of our amazing open spaces that you’ll find in New York City? Check out these 10 Secrets You Never Knew About Central Park!