Staten Island: Fresh Kills Park

The world largest garbage dump or landfill is in the process of being transformed into New York City’s newest park. It will be three times the size of Central Park and completely man made. The name Fresh Kill originated with the Dutch. A kille is a water channel and Fresh Kills is the name of the spring that flows through the area. The park will restore freshness to this area of Staten Island where wildlife was once abundant.

The process of converting the landfill into a gorgeous park is complex but extremely effective. The waste is first covered with soil which is covered with a plastic liner, to which a drain for the sludge (leachate) is added. Then all is covered with another barrier of soil and a layer of planting soil...Gas vents are inserted to collect the methane gas that is generated by the fermenting garbage. Voila, a park is created that is not only incredibly beautiful but also environmentally safe, with a sophisticated monitoring system.

There is much work to be done and the process will take thirty years to complete. Some sections may be opened in 5 to 10 bureaucratic years. In the meantime, Urban Rangers team up with other environmental agencies to provide tours of the developing park. They drive you in their minibus to the top of the mountain on a winding dirt road where the views are incredible.

Also incredible is the growing wildlife population. The first deer arrived this spring, joining the growing population of animals at the Fresh Kills Park. Who knows what next spring will bring.