NEW YORK, NY December 19, 2007 —For the years since the Federal government handed over ownership of Governor's Island to the City and New York State little appears to actually have happened. WNYC's Bob Hennelly reports that is about to change.

REPORTER: The Dutch firm West 8 won the competition to design a 90 acre park-- covering half of the Island. Their concept transforms the flat part of Governor's Island made up of dirt and rocks from subways excavations almost a century ago. By demolishing run-down buildings on the island, designers say they will generate material for a dramatic new landscape. West 8's Adriaan Geuze:

GEUZE: We will change the landfill district into a more spectacular new identity and recycle the debris from the buildings into spectacular hills from where you have the panorama.

REPORTER: The park is expected to cost as much as $400 million dollars. Under the terms of the Federal transfer their can be no housing or gambling on the Island.

For WNYC I am Bob Hennelly