This is a nice piece of lawn/grass on governors island where tourists and students can chill (picnic, lay, sit) and take a break. This area is especially vulnerable because of Lantern Flies.
Lantern Flies are an invasive species which puts risks at our islands environment,
"Spotted Lantern Flies pose a significant threat to New York's agricultural industry, negatively impacts outdoor recreation, and may impact forest health."
NYSDEC says, "After you have reported Spotted Lantern Flies in your area and collected a sample, you should kill any additional Spotted Lantern Flies you see by stepping on it or crushing it."
See more info at DEC NY
https://dec.ny.gov/nature/animals-fish-plants/spotted-lanternfly