Freshkills Park, once the world's largest landfill, has opened its new 21-acre North Park, marking a significant milestone in the transformation of Freshkills. This first phase of the 240-acre North Park is the first time the public has been welcomed to the park since the opening of the playground at Schmul Park in 2012.
The design team for North Park was led by Field Operations with New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, SL Architecture, and several engineering firms. It features a divided walking and high-speed path; a new entrance, a parking lot for visitors arriving from Wild Avenue, and a second entry point for neighbors entering near Schmul Park. North Park’s newly designed entrance and dramatically curving pathway into the heart of the northeastern area of Freshkills Park brings visitors along the base of the north landfill mound to an overlook with views of the Main Creek wetlands and the William T. Davis Wildlife Refuge.
“This transformational project will serve as a model for land reuse projects around the world and a shining example of how restoring habitats can benefit wildlife in urban areas,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “We are thrilled to welcome the residents of Staten Island and beyond to take in the beautiful wildlife and scenery and enjoy all that North Park has to offer.”
North Park is just the beginning and future phases of Freshkills Park will result in more than 750 acres of park, supporting active and passive recreation; public event spaces, and miles of trails. The park seeks to showcase the unusual combination of natural and engineered beauty on the site, including creeks, wetlands, meadows, and vistas. Freshkills is being built in phases and is scheduled to be completed in 2036.
