June: Landscape architecture firm Field Operations was selected as the planning and design consultant.
Image: NYC Department of City Planning.
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2001 – 2002: September 11 Recovery Effort
During the 10–month recovery effort after September 11, rescue workers carefully screened and sifted the 1.2 million tons of material that came from the World Trade Center site to Fresh Kills. The search effort did not end until all discernible materials and effects were removed and taken to the New York City Medical Examiner’s office for identification and safekeeping.
After the FBI, NYPD, and Office of Emergency Management determined the process of retrieval had been exhaustive and complete, the screened and sifted WTC materials remaining at Fresh Kills were placed in a 48–acre area immediately adjacent to the recovery site on the West Mound at Fresh Kills. A layer of clean soil at least 1 foot deep was placed in this area prior to placement of the screened materials; afterward it was covered with additional clean soil to protect the site.
Photo by Michael Falco.
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2001: Design Competition Finalists
December: Three finalist teams were chosen by a jury of professionals to compete for selection as planning consultant:
First Place: Field Operations – Philadelphia, PA and New York, NY
Second Place: JMP Landscape and John McAslan + Partners – London, England, UK
Third Place: RIOS Associates, Inc. – Los Angeles, CA
Image: RIOS Associates, Inc.
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2001: September 11
After the World Trade Center attack of September 11, 2001, the state consent order closing the landfill was amended by Governor George Pataki in order to allow for the transfer of materials from the World Trade Center site to Fresh Kills.
Photo by Michael Falco.
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2001: Design Competition
To take advantage of the potential for the adaptive end use of this unique site, the City of New York, in association with the Municipal Art Society, New York State Department of State, New York City Department of Sanitation, New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, and New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, conducted an International Design Competition to foster the development of a master plan for Freshkills Park. The goal was to attract the best talent, worldwide, to generate ideas and innovative park designs that would meet the needs of the City’s communities, and respond to the natural and constructed history of the site.
On September 5th 2001, The City of New York announced the start of the International Design Competition. Read about the planning process.
Image: NYC Department of City Planning.
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2001: Landfill Timeline
The timeline of the landfill’s operation was put together for the catalogue of the exhibit called “Fresh Kills: Artists Respond to the Closure of the Staten Island Landfill,” mounted at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center‘s Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art in 2001.
Courtesy of the Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art, Diana Yates Staten Island Advance and photographer Michael Falco.
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2001: Last Barge
March 22: Fresh Kills Landfill received its last barge of household solid waste.
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1997: North Mound Capped
North Mound was capped soon after South Mound. This 233-acre section is close to Schmul Playground and the Travis neighborhood. Learn about the plan for North Mound.
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1996: South Mound Capped
South Mound was the first of the four landfill mounds to be closed and covered with a thick, impermeable cap.
This section makes up 425 acres of the 2,200 acre site and is adjacent to Arthur Kill Road. Learn about the plan for South Mound.
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1996: New York State Law Passes to Close Landfill
New York State Law was passed requiring the landfill to cease accepting solid waste by December 31, 2001.
Image: DSNY Photo Archive.