FreshKills park (Staten Island, NY) as an example of a polluted area’s transformation into a public space

Staten Island is one of the five boroughs of the New York City. The borough of Staten Island differs from the other districts for being much more rural, agricultural and full of green areas. The picturesque landscape of the meadows named Fresh Kills is located in the middle of the Island. The name ‘Fresh Kills’ comes from the landfill’s location, along the banks of the Dutch name Fresh Kills estuary, in Western Staten Island. Since 1947, this place has been used as a garbage dump for the New York City metropolitan area. During the next fifty years, this area formed an artificial mound of waste occupying a surface of 2200 acres (890 ha). In 2003, the authorities of the City of New York decided to close the landfill and transform the Fresh Kill landfill into a recreational park, for future generation to use. Because of a very complicated system of recuperation, the park’s opening is scheduled for 2030. However, some of the parts of the Park are open to the public now. After completion, the Fresh Kills Park will be the largest park in New York City. It will be three times bigger than Central Park.