The best things to do on Governors Island with kids

While moms and dads might be inclined to take a breather on Hammock Grove, little adventurers are going to make a beeline to this 50,000-square-foot play area once it reopens on May 4. 
Previously known as Play:Ground, the Yard takes a unique approach to downtime. Kiddies 6 and up can tinker with loose parts and atypical objects (think cardboard, rope, wood planks, tires) as they work toward creating something out of this world. Don't worry, parents: Staffers are on hand to assist when needed. It's certainly a great way to keep kiddies active and curious, especially as the fourth season approaches. The go-to spot will now offer one of the coolest after-school programs in town: Adventure Club, a three-hour playtime on Monday through Thursday from 3–6pm from Apr 29–Jun 20. Enrollment ranges from $300–$1,100 for the semester, and spots are filling up fast! (Learn how to register on The Yard's website.)

When a playground houses the biggest slide in New York, an afternoon visit is mandatory. At 57 feet, the long and curvy slide Slide Hill at Governors Island offers kiddos a chance to race to the bottom with the wind in their hair. Make sure they wave hello to Lady Liberty on their way down!

With five miles of car-free paths, zipping around the island on a bike is a no-brainer. Free cruiser rentals are offered weekday mornings (kids’ bikes, child seats and tandem bikes are also available at various prices). Have bikes of your own? Bring ’em over with you on the Governors Island Ferry, departing from the Battery Maritime Building or Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 6.

Bonus: This season, Governors Island is expanding its offerings to include pedal cars, scooters and balance bikes, which will particularly be a hit for families with kiddies in tow. 

Kids will love clocking some lazy swing time in the Hammock Grove, a 10-acre slice of heaven. Fifty red-rope hammocks are rigged up on treelike poles—if you’re lucky, you and the fam can grab two or three and bliss out with BYO story-time books. It’s also right near the ball fields, a play area with climbing structures and swings, plus play fountains
in Liggett Terrace.

Reserve a grill or picnic table via this gatherings form for your next BBQ. The reservation even includes a Radio Flyer wagon for transporting goods to the grilling area.

Every year at the parade ground (the largest open green area on the island), Figment NYC brings a series of interactive art installations to Governors Island—expect an artist-designed minigolf course, a custom tree house and a walk-through pavilion.