Why visit
Hammock Grove occupies roughly ten acres in the newer park landscape of Governors Island. Landscape architects West 8 planted thousands of trees and shrubs across sculpted ground, using hardy species selected for the island's wind, salt exposure and projected future climate.
What to see
Bright red hammocks hang in small clearings among the young woodland, while paths cross lawns, seating areas and play spaces. The grove sits between Liggett Terrace and the Hills, functioning as a shaded transition from the island's historic northern buildings to its more topographic southern park.
Plan your visit
The trees are not decorative edges but the principal spatial structure, becoming denser and more protective as they mature. Hammock Grove therefore records the park as a developing ecological project: shade, habitat and enclosure increase over time while the informal suspended seating keeps human occupation light on the planted ground.
