A section of Freshkills Park on Staten Island opened to the public as part of the first phase in overhauling the old landfill.
Mayor Eric Adams and the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation Commissioner Sue Donoghue opened the North Park section of the park on Sunday.
“What was once an eyesore is now becoming a world-class park that will serve the residents of this borough for generations to come, and that will, once fully complete, become the second largest park within the five boroughs,” Adams wrote in a statement.
The former Fresh Kills Landfill site was once the largest landfill in the world. When the site is fully developed, it will be the second-largest park in New York City, officials said.
The park is being built in phases and will be completed in 2036, officials said.
The 21-acre North Park section will offer visitors views of the area’s hills and waterways, access to the William T. Davis Wildlife Refuge and opportunities to bird watch, a press release said. The section will also include pedestrian and cycling paths, an overlook deck, a bird viewing tower, a public parking lot and a composting restroom.
“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,” Donoghue wrote in a statement.
The press release said the design represents a “major step” for the department’s environmental goals.
The parking lot lighting and restroom building will rely on solar panels to provide power, and the restroom is designed to turn waste back into compost.
More than $2 million from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund through the Department of State’s Local Waterfront Revitalization Program was used to fund the renovation.