Polo Returns to Governors Island

For the second year in a row, polo will return to Governors Island on its opening day, May 30, according to NewYorkology.

The Veuve Clicquot Manhattan Polo Classic exhibition match will feature world-class polo players, including Nacho Figueras, the captain of Black Watch, a Veuve Clicquot spokesperson told NewYorkology.

Last year's tournament marked the first return of polo to Governors Island in almost 75 years. The sport was often played on the island -- then a military outpost -- between World War I and World War II, according to the Governors Island official blog.
Polo isn’t the only big event planned for the island this season.

The July 4 weekend is the planned opening of the Governors Island Water Taxi Beach which will sit on the north side, facing Lower Manhattan, next to the spot where one of artist Olafur Eliasson's NYC Waterfalls was installed last year.

A big change this year is that the entire perimeter of the island will be opened this year for walking and biking. There will also be a new picnic area on the south side of the island, facing the Statue of Liberty.

Bikes will be available to rent on the island (though last year there were long waits for rentals on busy days,) and the ferry from Manhattan will again be free.

While there will be free areas to watch the match, benefit tickets to the Veuve Clicquot Manhattan Polo Classic will be available by May 1, the spirits company said in a statement. The proceeds will benefit the American Friends of Sentebale, a charity that supports at-risk children in Lesotho, Africa.

See NewYorkology for a list of other free events and tours scheduled for this season at Governors Island.