Freshkills Park

Staten Island, New York

Once the world’s largest landfill, Freshkills Park is poised to become a working model of land restoration at the largest scale. As part of New York’s Anchor Parks Initiative, Starr Whitehouse was retained to lead an interdisciplinary team of engineers, ecologists, and architects to create a new master plan and implement the first stage... Continue Reading

Once the world’s largest landfill, Freshkills Park is poised to become a working model of land restoration at the largest scale. As part of New York’s Anchor Parks Initiative, Starr Whitehouse was retained to lead an interdisciplinary team of engineers, ecologists, and architects to create a new master plan and implement the first stage of reclamation at the 46-acre South Park. Developed in close partnership with the community, the master plan has two main goals: restoring ecological systems and reintroducing recreation and amenity to the reclaimed site. Programming is informed by site topography, with two artificial turf ballfields screened from the highway by sculpted lawn areas and barrier mounds adjoining a wetland mitigation zone. An accessible path winds around the fields, connecting to a parking area and existing path system leading to Owl Hollow Fields. A comfort station provides essential services, bike racks and amenities, while trails through surrounding woods and wetlands emphasize education and cultural opportunity. Green infrastructure protects the wetlands from flooding, while native trees and understory reclaim the park for local plant and animal communities.