How can this…

…become this?

Yup, there is a 30-year plan in the works to transform Staten Island’s Freshkills landfill site into a massive parkland. The park, once completed, will encompass a total of 5 parks and will be 3 times the size of New York City’s Central Park. It will also be the largest park development in NYC in 100 years! NYC’s Department of Parks and Recreation takes this spin on the project

The transformation of what was formerly the world’s largest landfill into a productive and beautiful cultural destination will make the park a symbol of renewal and an expression of how our society can restore balance to its landscape.

Freshkills has been Gotham City’s main garbage dump for decades. It borders on the Freshkills Estuary – why are landfill sites inevitably adjacent to sensitive ecosystems? I don’t see how all of the toxic sludge from one of the world’s largest cities can be transformed into a living, breathing, healthy landscape. I understand that trash still intact will be buried under the park. What will happen as the water table rises and falls with the seasons?

It’s an ambitious plan that I can’t help but be a bit cynical about. Are we just going to start spending megabucks on megaprojects to cover up or hide the messes we’ve made? We should know how that turns out…what’s buried always finds a way to re-surface.

Full project plans, photos & videos can be viewed on the Dept of Parks & Rec’s website.