Transforming Landfills into Parks

Degraded lands are often found in areas that have the most environmental burdens with respect to groundwater threat, hazardous waste, poor air quality, pollution burden, etc. These lands include properties occupied by abandoned, redundant, or unwanted infrastructure, such as decommissioned landfills, oil wells, rail yards, utility corridors, airports, and power plants. 

In locations where environmental burdens are concentrated and impactful land uses are defunct, multiple benefits can be derived from restoration projects like new parks that address residual pollution and unhealthy conditions, restore natural systems, and provide enhanced recreational opportunities for residents. In this article, Diana Kurzeja highlights the following landfills which have been dramatically transformed into parks and open spaces for public enjoyment:

1. Mt. Trashmore Park (Virginia Beach, VA)
2. Cesar Chavez Park (Berkeley, CA)
3. Freshkills Park (Staten Island, NY)
4. Pulau Semakau (Singapore)
5. Port Sunlight River Park (United Kingdom)
6. Millennium Park (Boston, MA)
7. Flushing Meadows (Long Island, NY)
8. Sai Tso Wan Recreation Ground (Hong Kong)
9. Ariel Sharon Park (Israel)
10. Chambers Gully Reserve (Australia)
11. Glass Beach (Fort Bragg, CA)

To learn more about the above places, please read the source article. 

Also noteworthy is Los Angeles County's current efforts to transform the Puente Hills Landfill into a regional park.