The Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation and National Parks Services have laid some important groundwork:
- Expanded Island access and exciting cultural events drew 55,000 people to the Island this summer, more than
double last year's total; - New ferries and docks will soon enable more than 7,000 people an hour to comfortably and quickly travel to the
Island; - The Island's 1.4 million square feet of historic buildings are now stabilized and ready for rehabilitation;
- A premier design team will be selected this fall by GIPEC to plan what will be one of the world's great waterfront parks;
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The National Park Service expects to release its General Management Plan in 2008, and will nominate the Island for its Centennial celebration in 2016.
But this preparation means nothing without the political and financial commitment of the City, State, and Federal Government to move forward:
The Governor and Mayor must commit to building the parks and the infrastructure needed to support it. Governors Island will take years to complete. But prospective tenants will need to know that government will create the access and amenity that define the Island's character.
The Governor and Mayor must appropriate $ 40 million each from the City and the State in fiscal year 2009. The City has already signaled its intent to spend up to $ 70 million in its four year capital plan. The State needs to match these resources. Making this commitment NOW will ensure that the Mayor and Governor can break ground on the Park in 2009: a fitting tribute to the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's voyage.
The National Park Service and the Congress should truly open the National Monument by allocating $ 5 million to start rehabilitating Castle Williams. The Castle, and its commanding views of the Harbor and skyline, is still closed to the public.