You may have read earlier this week that The Hills’ playground slides are about to open, but we didn’t really get into The Hills themselves (or how spectacular they are!). The project has been a few years in the making, and each hill will offer amazing grassy overlooks, stunning views, the slides (of course). One even plays host to a permanent installation from British artist Rachael Whiteread! The installation (entitled Cabin) is a concrete cast of a New England-style shed, much like Thoreau's cabin at Walden Pond.
The tallest of The Hills rises 70 feet above sea level, and the whole project is defined by four distinct parts: Grassy Hill, Slide Hill, Discovery Hill and Outlook Hill. While Slide hill is self-explanatory, Grassy Hill rises to about 25 feet and is composed of gentle slopes. Discovery Hill (at 39 feet) features ornamental trees and shrubs (and houses the installation), while Outlook Hill, perhaps the most picturesque of all, offers 360-degree views that include New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty and the city skyline.
Other cool facts to note:
- The Hills have 54 species of native or locally-adapted vegetation to help the area stay strong even in harsh weather
- The Hills are made of recycled demolition debris, fill and lightweight pumice
- The Hills are home to NYC’s longest slide (coming in at 57 feet long and three stories tall)...aww yeahh
- The Hills are opening almost a year ahead of schedule!
Visit Governor's Island on July 19, when The Hills/Slides finally open!
For more fun things to check out on Governors Island, visit our Governors Island, NY guide for families and wonderful summer activities for kids.