New Governors Island park boasting city’s longest slide set to open in May

The Hills are alive--or at least they will be this spring as part of a <a href="http://www.govislandpark.com/areas/the-hills/" target="_blank"> new park on Governors Island</a> that's set to open to visitors nearly a year ahead of schedule on May 28th. Phase 2 of the ambitious <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/first-phase-of-governors-island-overhall-to-start-in-2012/" target="_blank">Governor's Island Master Plan</a>, headed by well-known landscape architects <a href="http://www.west8.nl/projects/all/governors_island_phase_2_the_hills/" target="_blank">West 8</a>, will open an additional 10 acres of green space on the previously inaccessible island in the form of four artificial hills formed out of recycled construction debris and clean fill. And for those looking for a little thrill, the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/a-38-foot-tall-hill-of-slides-is-coming-soon-to-governors-island-park/" target="_blank">longest slide in NYC</a>, located on the aptly-named Slide Hill, is expected to open to visitors in May as well.

Outlook Hill will offer beautiful views of the harbor.

Discovery Hill will include incredible views of Manhattan.

Grassy Hill will be an expansive park with gorgeous views.

To do this, much of the first phase of the renovation process was spent lifting the majority of the island out of the flood zone.

During the planning stage of the park, the architects were determined to implement resilient features to the project's Master Plan to ensure that the park would be sustainable through the next century.

The four hills that will be opening in May are not only enjoyable features of the city's newest park, but are also part of this resilient strategy to make the area safe in the face of future climate change.

The four artificial hills that cover 10 acres of park space will give visitors even more open green space to enjoy.

Especially fun for families will be Slide Hill, which is a 38-foot-tall hill covered with slides, one of which, at 40 feet tall, is the longest in NYC.

Additionally exciting about the new opening is that the Hills, which rise as high as 70 feet above the island, will offer stunning views of the Statue of Liberty, downtown Manhattan, Brooklyn and the New York Harbor.

In addition to Slide Hill, visitors in May will be able to explore Discovery Hill, Grassy Hill, and Outlook Hill, all with their own specific features and amenities.

In addition to the hills, the park's Picnic Point and a 2.2-mile-long promenade around the island's perimeter will be open to visitors.

The opening of the Hills section of the parks marks the completion of phase 2 of the ambitious project, which has seen Governors Island transformed into a community recreation park over the past 10 years.

The first 30 acres were opened to the public in 2014 and included 1,500 newly-planted trees, a six-acre plaza, a large recreational lawn with two baseballs fields, and a "hammock grove" that provided 50 swinging hammocks to park goers.

The Governors Island renovation is being led by West 8.