From massive landfill to public park: the environmental transformation of New York’s Freshkills

Freshkills, located in Island State, New Yorkis an iconic case of how a city can transform an environmental injury into a place of sustainability and biodiversity. This park, when the development is completed it is almost three times the size of Central Park, its history is marked by environmental exploitation and abandonment, until today it is a benchmark in reclaiming degraded places.

The area in which Freshkills is located today was, to begin with, a place of great ecological value. In the century XVII, Before the arrival of European settlers, this region was part of the land of the Lenape indigenous people. These wildlife-filled wetlands provided essential resources and protected the shoreline of Staten Island, as well as regulating the natural flow of water in the surrounding areas. However, when Dutch settlers arrived, the area underwent a major change: renamed “kill”, a Dutch word meaning “river bed” or “water channel”, it became was an intensive agricultural area that supported draft horses, which were vital to New York’s urban economy at the time, according to National Geographic.

This protected ecosystem was radically changed in 1948, when a Robert Mosesinfluential urban planner, named Freshkills the best waste management site for the city. The decision arose in a context of rapid urbanization and a growing demand for a place to store the waste produced by the population of New York and economic expansion.

However, this temporary solution turned into a cycle of accumulation that lasted 53 years, during which time Freshkills reached an unprecedented scale, becoming the largest landfill in the world and catch up with 29,000 tons daily waste. according to The KeeperThe residents of Staten Island suffered the direct effects of this huge landfill, which turned the air into a mixture of unpleasant odors and created a “sacrifice zone” where the quality of life was rapidly decreasing.

The outcry from the local community was constant, and after several decades of protest, New York authorities ordered the permanent closure of Freshkills in 2001. With the closure came the great challenge of revitalizing the area, which required planning extensive and advanced technology implementation. to manage accumulated waste.

according to Smithsonianthe first step was to enclose the waste in pits covered with a layer of waterproof plastic and several layers of soil to seal them permanently, preventing the infiltration of toxic substances into the soil and the release of gases . This closure system also included the installation of a network of gas pipes to capture methane, a natural by-product of waste decomposition, which has made it possible not only to control its release, but also used as a renewable energy source. Currently, the methane collected at Freshkills generates enough electricity to power thousands of homes, marking a key point in the site’s transformation into a place of sustainability (Boston University).

Over time, the landscape of Freshkills began to change. The design of the park was commissioned by the landscape architect James Cornerknown for projects such as the High Line in Manhattan. Corner structured his proposal for Freshkills around the coexistence of natural elements and legacy waste infrastructure, developing a plan that integrates trails, recreation areas and conservation areas. To design, according to Boston Universitytrying to restore the natural identity of the area while using the seal waste holes as landscaped hills, creating a natural environment in which a special product of biodiversity can be seen today.

The arrival of species of birds and small mammals not seen in the area for years has turned Freshkills into a haven for local and migratory species, such as the American flycatcher and sandpiper, signature species of the park’s ecological regeneration. . The Doctor Shannon Curley of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, described to National Geographicthat the recovery of this habitat proves that Freshkills is now a suitable site for wildlife.

The transformation of Freshkills also included innovations in sustainability that today make it a model for other cities. according to The New York TimesAs well as using methane, the park has a pollinator garden which supports native flora and provides a healthy environment for species such as bees and butterflies. This pollination project has a dual role, allowing natural soil regeneration and supporting biodiversity in other New York parks, contributing to the maintenance of local ecosystems throughout the village Freshkills’ sustainability extends to waste management, by installing a composting facility managed by the New York Department of Sanitation. This plant transforms organic waste into compost, which is distributed free of charge to residents, schools and local organizations, reinforcing a nutrient recycling cycle that regenerates the soil and reduces the need for synthetic fertilizers.

Freshkills is a symbol of urban resilience, turning from a waste dump into a place of biodiversity and urban sustainability (Facebook)

Today, Freshkills continues to develop, and is expected to continue 2036 it is completely open to the public. according to National GeographicWhen complete, the park will offer bird watching areas, walking and cycling paths, educational spaces and memory zones. In West Mound, one of the closed holes, a memorial will be built to honor the victims of 9/11, a section containing debris from the World Trade Center.