From a former landfill on Staten Island, the 2.200-acre area is being transformed in phases and already features wetlands, grasslands, and ongoing environmental monitoring.
What was once known as one of New York City’s largest garbage dumps is being transformed into an unusually large urban park. In Staten Island, the future Freshkills Park occupies the site of the former Fresh Kills landfill, where the four large piles of waste totaled approximately [amount missing from original text]. 150 million tons of solid waste, according to the park’s own description.
The project has 2.200 acresalmost three times the size of Central Park, which has 843 acres, according to information from the park’s website and the Central Park Conservancy.
Although not yet fully open and still being implemented in stages, the site already operates as a living laboratory of environmental recovery, with restoration of wetlands, creation of habitat and infrastructure for controlling typical landfill impacts, such as gases and liquids generated by the decomposition of waste.
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From landfill to urban park in New York; watch the video.
The Fresh Kills landfill was closed in March 22th, 2001after decades of receiving the city’s household waste, according to historical records about the area.
Twenty years later, in March 22th, 2021Municipal authorities and project partners marked the date as a symbolic turning point, highlighting the renewed use of the territory and the ambition to transform it into a benchmark green space.
Environmental recovery that attempts to transform a landfill into an ecosystem.
The change isn’t just about planting trees on top of the rubble. One of the most frequently mentioned approaches is the restoration of 360 acres of wetlandsWetlands help improve water quality, mitigate flooding, and increase species diversity, as detailed in the project’s own material.
The restoration also includes the return of landscapes that existed before the landfill operation, such as canals and wetlands connected to Arthur Kill, reinforcing the idea that the park is born from the combination of nature and engineering.
On land, the park houses over 1.000 acres of grassland habitat, described as the largest prairie ecosystem in the state of New York, with records of fauna and flora typical of this environment.
The park’s website also highlights the expanding presence of wildlife and cites, for example, the return of birds of prey such as ospreys to areas within the territory.
Soil engineering and risk control for conversion into a public area.
Beneath what appears to be a park, there is a set of containment and monitoring works that are central to environmental safety. The former landfill is covered by a “lid” of layers that include soil, geotextiles, and geomembrane, as well as structures for rainwater drainage and erosion prevention, according to the project’s engineering section.
Another key element is the control of landfill byproducts. The park’s material describes systems for collection and treatment of leachate and landfill gas, to reduce risks to public health and the environment.
Continuous monitoring also appears as a rule of the game, with regular measurements of air, surface water, and groundwater to verify that the infrastructure is functioning as planned.
Phased openings and what you can already visit in Staten Island
Despite its size, access is still limited in much of the park’s interior, which remains accessible mainly through scheduled programs and visits while construction progresses.
One of the most recent deliveries is… North Park Phase 1, a 21-acre area opened to the public in October 2023, featuring trails, an observation tower, and structures powered by solar energy, according to the project’s update page.
The overall plan is for gradual implementation, with construction in phases and a projected completion date. 2036, according to the description from the firm responsible for the master plan.
The debate that accompanies projects of this size
The transformation of Freshkills often divides opinions because it raises a difficult question: Can a place built on millions of tons of garbage and surrounded by permanent control infrastructure be called nature?
Proponents point to the opportunity to restore ecosystems, create green spaces, and offer environmental education in a metropolis that needs open areas. Critics argue that the slow pace and cost of maintenance could turn into an endless promise, as well as fueling fears of “greenwashing” on top of an environmental liability.
And you, do you consider this type of park a real solution for environmental recovery or just a way to make the problem less visible? Comment on what you think and say if your city should transform old landfills into public areas or if that’s too risky.