New funding secures ferry service from Brooklyn to Governors Island for the rest of the season • Brooklyn Paper
Thanks to government funding, the Governors Island Ferry from Brooklyn will continue operating until October.
Photo courtesy of Joe Mabel/Wikimedia Commons
The seasonal ferry service from Brooklyn to Governors Island will continue through October after receiving $250,000 in state funding, state Senator Andrew Gounardes and the Trust for Governors Island announced Wednesday.
The seasonal service operated by the Trust ran into financial difficulties earlier this year after announcing in April that it only had funding for ferry operations from Memorial Day through the end of June, and no funding at all for summer operations to Pier 6 and Red Hook in 2025.
Since 2010, the Trust has operated a seasonal weekend ferry service from Brooklyn to the island, which lies in New York Harbor about 1,200 feet from Brooklyn and 2,100 feet from Manhattan, between May and October. There is also a daily service from Manhattan.
In 2021, the Trust added service from Red Hook/Atlantic Basin and Brooklyn Bridge Park, which average 10,000-15,000 riders per month.
Ahead of the passage of the state budget this year, the Trust enlisted the support of local politicians to “fill a gap during this year’s budget crisis” and push for additional funding so Brooklyn residents can continue to access the green spaces, resources and programs on the 43 acres of green space.
When Gounardes announced the payment of the $250,000 on August 14 to ensure the ferry’s operation for the rest of the season, he said he was “proud to have successfully fought for these government funds.”
“For Brooklyn residents to enjoy all that Governors Island has to offer, they must be able to get there,” the politician said in a statement. “This funding ensures that the Trust can continue to provide frequent, easily accessible ferry service that connects Brooklyn residents to the island’s green spaces, educational opportunities, local art exhibitions and climate research opportunities.”
Clare Newman, president and CEO of the Trust for Governors Island, thanked Gounardes and other colleagues in the New York State Senate, Assembly and City Council for the additional funding.
“Governors Island is an easily accessible destination for many of our city’s communities during the summer months, and ensuring equitable ferry access for New Yorkers is critical to fulfilling our mission,” Newman said.
At the time of publication, representatives for Senator Gounardes and the Trust for Governors Island did not immediately respond to questions about the fate of the Brooklyn ferry service in 2025 and beyond.
