The mission of the Governors Island Alliance is to celebrate the Island’s rich history, create memorable parks and public spaces, and ensure appropriate reuse of the Island and its historic structures.
Since 1995, the Alliance has worked collaboratively to return the Island to the people of New York. Our concept of redeveloping the Island as a great civic space was the basis for the 2003 transfer from the Federal Government to New York and the National Park Service.
Thanks to the Alliance’s advocacy and the support of farsighted public officials,
- About 110 acres of parks and public spaces are or will shortly be open to the public, including a National Monument and a spectacular City waterfront park now under construction;
- The landscaped grounds and 19th century homes in the Island’s spectacular 93-acre National Landmark Historic District are permanently protected under city, state, and federal law;
- The Landmark 1811 Castle Williams will welcome visitors to its spectacular rooftop and former jail cells.
- Public-oriented uses like the New York Harbor School are revitalizing the Island and its historic buildings.
In addition to our on-going advocacy, the Alliance welcomes thousands of visitors to the Island every summer with concerts, arts & educational programs, including our welcome tent, annual Opening Day Family Festival, and Harbor Map. Our corporate and individual volunteers help stretch the capacity of government and other non-profit partners.
The Alliance continues to fulfill its mission by pursuing three goals:
- Promote timely and appropriate redevelopment of the Island’s parks and public spaces, historic buildings and new development zones by working constructively with The Trust for Governors Island, the National Park Service and other partners;
- Build an active and informed constituency for the Island by offering opportunities for the public to become engaged through public programs, volunteer activities, and decisions about the Island’s future; and
- Secure additional city, state and federal government investment by advocating for needed capital and operating funding in Albany, New York City, and Washington D.C.
The Alliance – a project of Regional Plan Association – is guided by a distinguished Board of Directors. Organizational affiliations are for identification purposes only.
Governors Island Alliance Board of Directors
Chairwoman
Donna Milrod, Deutsche Bank
Kent Barwick, Municipal Art Society
Peg Breen, New York Landmarks Conservancy
Tonio Burgos, Tonio Burgos and Associates, Inc / Nyprocoa, Inc.
Michael Burke, Statue Cruises
Albert Butzel, Albert K. Butzel Law Office
Jay Clayton, Sullivan & Cromwell
Ian Danic, Electra Information Systems
Helena Durst, Durst Organization
Kenneth Fisher, Cozen O’Connor
Amy Jedlicka, Trinity Real Estate
Edith Kean, Landscape Designer
Richard Kennedy, Cushman & Wakefield, Inc.
Michael Klein, McKenna Long & Aldridge
Robert Levine, RAL Companies and Affiliates LLC
Amelia Rae Maguire, University of Miami Business School
Sean McDevitt, Maren Group
Sara Mirski, Recycled House
Marc Ricks, Goldman Sachs
Judith Rivkin, Christodora
Jay Schippers, Housing Resource Foundation
Thomas Secunda, Bloomberg LP
H. Claude Shostal, Regional Plan Association
Ivan Thornton, Fiduciary Management Group
Robert Yaro, Regional Plan Association
Executive Director
Robert Pirani
Over 50 of the region’s most important environmental, preservation, business, and community organizations have joined the Alliance as our coalition partners
Major Civic Members
Added Value Farm | American Council of Engineers New York Chapter | American Institute of Architects / New York Chapter | American Planning Association New York Metro Chapter| American Society of Landscape Architects of New York | Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy | Brooklyn Greenway Initiative | Children’s Museum of the Arts | Congress for the New Urbanism – New York Chapter | Cornell University Cooperative Extension | Earth Matter Composting | Environmental Advocates of New York | Environmental Defense | FIGMENT | Floating the Apple | Lower Manhattan Cultural Council | Manhattan Community Board 1 | Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance | Municipal Art Society | National Parks Conservation Association | National Trust for Historic Preservation | Natural Resources Defense Council | The Nature Conservancy | New York / New Jersey Baykeeper | New York City Audubon | New York Landmarks Conservancy | New York League of Conservation Voters | New York Restoration Project | New Yorkers for Parks | North River Historic Ship Society | Parks & Trails New York | Preservation League of New York State | Regional Plan Association | The River Project | Riverkeeper | The Trust for Public Land | Transportation Alternatives | United War Veterans Council | Urban Assembly New York Harbor School | Women’s City Club
Our Funders
Many thanks to our generous donors! Thanks to their help, the Alliance is able to continue our advocacy for the Island’s redevelopment as a great civic space for all to enjoy.
Underwriters
The JM Kaplan Fund • Deutsche Bank • Statue Cruises • KPMG • Sullivan & Cromwell LLP • Mr. and Mrs. Tom and Cindy Secunda • Mr. and Mrs. Jay Clayton • NAMEPA
Sponsors
Hughes Hubbard • Tonio Burgos and Associates • Williams Gas Pipeline • One Brooklyn Bridge Park • Donna Milrod and Peter Feeney • Mr. Donald Pels • Trinity Wall Street
Benefactors
Judith Rivkin and George Davison • Cozen O’Connor • The Dermot Company & The Poulakakos Family • Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group • Richard and Elizabeth Pepperman • Gina Doynow
Supporters
ACEC New York • AKRF Engineering, PC • AKRF, Inc. • Brad Burnham • Claude Shostal • Dagher Engineering • Elisa Strauss & Marc Ricks • Goldman Sachs Inc. • Ian Danic • Jay Schippers • Kauff McGuire & Margolis LLP • Lee Pierce • Lisa Ackerman • Martha & Robert Rubin • Metro Biofuels • New Jersey Sandy Hook Pilots • New York Sandy Hook Pilots • Nicholas & Lence Communications • Partnership for New York City • Tony & Nanar Yoseloff • Weidlinger Associates Inc. • Yvonne Force Villareal