NEW YORK, NY October 10, 2008 —Mayor Bloomberg and other city officials are on Governors Island to begin the demolition of several buildings.

New York is knocking down 10 buildings that were built in 1988 as Coast Guard housing, to make way for new recreation space.

More than eight acres of new open space will then be available to New Yorkers by next summer and the island's entire waterfront promenade will then be open for walking and biking.