Photo Essay
Governors Island waits for its next act
New development is coming to this historic island in New York Harbor
Pavement Pieces
Visitors to New York City’s Governors Island arrive at the ferry landing. This year, the city extended the island’s ferry service into the winter for the first time. Nov. 29, 2021. Photo by Delger Erdenesanaa
Passengers board the ferry to Governors Island from Manhattan. The trip takes barely 10 minutes. Oct. 15, 2021. Photo by Delger Erdenesanaa
A family pedals rented carts by a construction site on Governors Island. New York City recently rezoned the island for new development, including a climate solutions center. Nov. 21, 2021. Photo by Delger Erdenesanaa
Slide Hill on Governors Island lies empty on a gloomy fall afternoon. During the summer, the area would be full of families out with their children. Nov. 21, 2021. Photo by Delger Erdenesanaa
This educational garden on Governors Island grows crops from many of New York City’s different cultures and cuisines. The garden is run by Earth Matter, a nonprofit that composts the island’s food and landscaping waste. Dec. 3, 2021. Photo by Delger Erdenesanaa
Volunteers and staff with Earth Matter on Governors Island shovel finished compost into bags that will be distributed to community gardens around New York City. Dec. 3, 2021. Photo by Delger Erdenesanaa
Laying hens who live in Earth Matter’s Compost Learning Center eat the food scraps produced by vendors, tenant organizations and visitors on Governors Island. Dec. 3, 2021. Photo by Delger Erdenesanaa
Starlings and sparrows take advantage of the chicken coop and food scraps at Earth Matter’s composting facility on Governors Island. Dec. 3, 2021. Photo by Delger Erdenesanaa
Visitors can only view this old residential building on Governors Island from the outside. From 1966 to 1996, about 3,000 people lived on the island during its days as a Coast Guard base. Nov. 29, 2021. Photo by Delger Erdenesanaa
The former homes of Coast Guard families on Governors Island are now mostly uninhabitable, but a few New York City art, education and environmental organizations periodically rent these yellow houses. Nov. 29, 2021. Photo by Delger Erdenesanaa