Edgemere Landfill facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rockaway Community Park
Edgemere Park
Rockaway Community Park in 2018.
Type	Public park
Location	54-02 Almeda Avenue Edgemere, Queens, New York
Area	255.40 acres (103.36 ha)
Operated by	New York City Department of Parks and Recreation
Status	Open
Superfund site
Information
CERCLIS ID	NYD980754725
Contaminants	Various chemicals
Responsible parties	New York City Department of Sanitation
List of Superfund sites

The Edgemere Landfill is a former garbage dump located in Edgemere on the Rockaway peninsula in Queens, New York City. It sits on a man-made piece of land along the Jamaica Bay shoreline. Part of this area is now open to the public as Rockaway Community Park (once called Edgemere Park). The entire site is owned by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.

The landfill started operating in June 1938. It joined several islands in the Jamaica Bay marshland to the main Rockaway Peninsula. For a short time, part of the site was even used as the Rockaway Airport. In the 1950s, New York City Parks Commissioner Robert Moses planned Edgemere Park for this landfill site. The idea was to fill marshland to create new park areas. The small part of Rockaway Community Park next to the Edgemere Houses was built in the 1960s. During its operation, the landfill was a place where toxic chemicals and waste oil were dumped. It also attracted many birds, which was a danger to planes at nearby John F. Kennedy International Airport. In 1983, toxic waste drums were found, and the landfill was named a Superfund site. It closed in 1991 and was covered up to make it safe.

The highest point of the landfill is the tallest spot in the Rockaways. It stands about 70 feet (21 m) high. Some say it was "the longest continuously operating dump in the United States." It accepted waste from 1938 to 1991. It is also one of the oldest landfills in New York City. It was the second-to-last city landfill to close. The very last one, Fresh Kills Landfill in Staten Island, closed in 2001.

What is Edgemere Landfill Like?

An aerial view of Arverne and Edgemere, Queens. The Edgemere Landfill is the small piece of land in the lower center, with JFK Airport just to the north.

The Former Landfill Area

The Edgemere Landfill is on the north side of the Rockaway Peninsula. It is in the Edgemere neighborhood, near Arverne. The landfill site is a smaller piece of land that reaches north into Jamaica Bay. Waterways within the bay are on its western and eastern sides. To the west is Somerville Basin, and to the east is Norton Basin.

The landfill site has a large "head" section with the main mound. This part extends into Jamaica Bay. A "neck" section connects it to the Rockaways. The park and landfill together cover about 255.40 acres (103.36 ha). The landfill itself is often said to be 173 acres (70 ha). Its shoreline is about 2 miles (3.2 km) long. Grass covers the landfill, and there are roads around and across it. The grass is cut once a year to check for gas leaks. The landfill's peak is 70 feet (21 m) high, making it the highest point on the Rockaway Peninsula. This means it is not in a flood-prone area.

During its operation, the Edgemere Landfill received about 9 million cubic yards (6.9 million cubic metres) of waste. It is one of three large landfills along Jamaica Bay. The other two are in Brooklyn. The ends of Runways 4L and 4R of John F. Kennedy International Airport are directly north of the landfill. When the landfill was active, gulls eating garbage there were a danger to planes. Bird species like the American herring gull and laughing gull were found there.

Rockaway Community Park Features

One of the mosquito magnets in Rockaway Community Park.

The only open part of Rockaway Community Park is at the base of the main landfill. It is on the north side of Almeda Avenue, across from the Ocean Bay Apartments. This developed park area is about 15 acres (6.1 ha). An extra 25 acres (10 ha) of land was opened for public use in 2010. A "natural area" is north of the developed park, connecting it to the former landfill.

Two smaller undeveloped park areas stretch south toward Beach Channel Drive. The western one is a rectangle between Beach 58th Street and Somerville Basin. The eastern one is a triangle on the Conch Basin coastline. The southern part of the western area is used as the Rockaway Youth Task Force Community Garden. Just south of the eastern area is Conch Playground, next to Public School 105.

The developed park has a grass sports field with a baseball diamond and a cricket pitch. This is the only cricket pitch on the Rockaway Peninsula. The park also has basketball, handball, and tennis courts, plus a playground. Two fishing piers are on the Sommerville Basin coast. A walking trail goes through the northern natural area. The main landfill itself is a good spot for birdwatching. This is because it is close to the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.

One big problem at the park is the many mosquitoes. This makes fewer people want to use the park. The mosquitoes are there because of the park's location along Jamaica Bay and its thick plants. The park and other mosquito breeding spots in the city are regularly treated to control mosquitoes. "Mosquito magnets" are also in the park to help. The park also has unwanted plants like phragmites. Many park facilities are old and need repair. The playing fields and courts are overgrown. Also, there is no sidewalk on the north side of Almeda Avenue, making it hard to reach the park. Noise from JFK Airport is also a problem.

Original plans for the main landfill included a marina and a golf course. Current plans for Rockaway Community Park aim to develop the main landfill as part of the park in the future. The landfill cannot be fully developed until 2021.

Department of Sanitation Facility

The DSNY District 14 Garage at the Edgemere Landfill.

A part of the site on the Conch Basin is still used by the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY). This area has a gas extraction facility that collects gases from the landfill. It also holds the DSNY Queens East District 14 Garage. The garage opened in 2009. On December 14, 2010, the garage was named the "Stephen Dixon Garage" after a worker who died on duty.

Getting There: Transportation

The park and landfill can be reached by the Q22 and Q52 SBS bus routes. These buses run on Beach Channel Drive. The Q22 goes across the Rockaway Peninsula. The Q52 travels north to "mainland" Queens. The closest New York City Subway station is the Beach 60th Street station. It is on the IND Rockaway Line (A train).

Where Do the Names Come From?

The name Edgemere comes from an old term meaning "edge of the sea." The name Rockaway comes from an Algonquin Native American word. It has several meanings, such as "sandy place" or "neck of the land." This was the name of the Lenape tribe who lived around Jamaica Bay.

How the Landfill and Park Came to Be

Early History of the Area

A 1907 map of Edgemere. The area that became the landfill was once many small islands in Little Bay.

Before the landfill, the site of Edgemere Park was many separate islands. These islands were in a larger area called Little Bay. It was known as "Little Bay Marsh." The area around Jamaica Bay, including the Rockaways, was mostly marshland.

Native American groups like the Canarsie and Rockaway lived here first. In 1685, the Rockaway Peninsula was sold to English Captain John Palmer. He bought the land for "31 pounds, 2 shillings." The land was seen as "barren," with meadows and marsh used for grazing. The peninsula later grew westward due to sand building up from the tides.

In 1687, Palmer sold the land to English settler Richard Cornell. Cornell built a house overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. This was said to be the first permanent building in the area. The Cornell family also created a nearby burial ground.

In 1830, John Leake Norton bought land from the Cornell family. He formed the Rockaway Association and built a hotel called the Marine Pavilion. This hotel opened in 1833. Although it burned down in 1864, it helped the Rockaways become a popular resort town. Railroad lines opened in 1869 and 1880, bringing more visitors.

Until the 1880s, Edgemere and Arverne were mostly undeveloped. Edgemere was developed by Frederick J. Lancaster starting in 1892. The Hotel Edgemere opened in 1894. The Arverne neighborhood was developed by Remington Vernam. The Arverne Hotel was built in 1888.

Building the Landfill

In 1916, the New York City Waterfront Company bought land on the north shore of the Rockaway Peninsula. This included the area around Little Bay. The land was marsh and beach, and it was planned to be filled to build houses.

Garbage dumping at Edgemere by the New York City Department of Sanitation started on July 15, 1938. This landfill replaced an incinerator in Arverne. Dumping city garbage in the ocean had been banned in 1933. Large holes were dug in Norton Basin and Little Bay. The dirt from these holes was used to create a base for the landfill. The landfilling changed the types of plants and animals in the water. The Edgemere Landfill was one of several landfills created at that time.

Local residents complained about the landfill. They said paint on houses peeled due to fumes. On July 15, dumping was stopped. The Sanitation Commissioner said the smells were from mud used to cover the garbage. He promised to use clean sand instead. Dumping started again in October 1938. Residents still opposed it, citing fires and rats.

In March 1939, the Sanitation Commissioner and Health Commissioner were accused of violating city codes. They were charged with "unlawfully dumping raw garbage and maintaining a public nuisance." The charges were based on how city-run dumps in Queens were operated. They surrendered to the court and were released. In June 1939, the charges were dropped. An expert board was appointed to investigate the landfills. In March 1940, the board supported continued landfilling. They said it helped control rats and mosquitoes in marshland.

Rockaway Airport's Brief Life

On July 16, 1939, the Edgemere Airport (also called Rockaway Airport) opened. It was on the New York City Waterfront Company land. The airport was for civilian training and leisure flying.

In December 1939, a court ordered the city to give the airport a permit. However, in July 1940, the city said the airport would close. It did not meet facility requirements, such as runway length. Work began to expand the airport. Pilots training there included members of the Women Flyers Of America.

In October 1940, the Rockaway Chamber of Commerce asked for a civilian pilot school at Rockaway Airport. In January 1941, Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia rejected this idea. He said it was too costly and potentially dangerous. On July 26, 1941, the Civil Aeronautics Administration approved Rockaway Airport for pilot training. When World War II began in 1941, the airport was offered to the U.S. military. In February 1942, the offer was accepted. Civilian flying was banned during the war. In early 1944, the United States Coast Guard leased the airport for helicopter training.

After the war, in February 1946, Rockaway Airport reopened. It was operated by war veterans. Starting in January 1947, the airport was used for a helicopter mail service.

Park Plans and Land Purchase

Rockaway Community Park was planned along with the Edgemere Houses (pictured), which opened in 1960.

In January 1946, the new Sanitation Commissioner said the city would stop using landfills. Instead, they would use incinerators. In January 1949, a "Super Dump" opened in Howard Beach. This new dump was meant to take most of the garbage from southern Queens. It would reduce the load on or replace the Edgemere Landfill.

In 1952 and 1953, Parks Commissioner Moses suggested the city buy the Edgemere Landfill. He wanted to keep it operating for 15 years, then turn it into a park. In 1955, the city began plans for a housing project in Edgemere. These plans included a park on the landfill site. The city approved the park project in April 1955. In October 1955, New York City started legal steps to buy the Edgemere Landfill site. The park was to be named "Edgemere Park." Plans for the park included tennis courts, a boat basin, and an ice skating rink. By this time, the site was 264 acres (107 ha). Many small islands had been joined together by landfilling.

The city bought the landfill site in December 1957 for $1,496,564. Some officials criticized the purchase price. They said the city paid too much for land that was still a landfill.

First Park Development

By July 1958, Rockaway Airport was closed and torn down for the housing project. In October 1958, work began on the Edgemere Houses. Robert Moses spoke about his plans for Edgemere Park. The first part of the park would be a "buffer" between the housing project and the landfill. The rest of the park, which would be the "largest park on the Rockaway peninsula," would have a golf course and a marina. Moses planned several parks on wetlands by filling them with waste.

In December 1959, the city approved money to add more sand to the Edgemere Landfill. This would extend the site further into Jamaica Bay. They also planned to build roads for the new housing project and park. In July 1960, plans were approved to develop 12 acres (4.9 ha) of Edgemere Park. It would have baseball fields, tennis courts, and paths. Conch Playground opened in August 1960. In October 1960, plans for park improvements were announced. The first building of the Edgemere Houses opened in November 1960. By 1963, tennis courts were finished, and a playground was planned.

In 1965, it was said that the Edgemere Landfill had more American herring gulls than famous nesting areas. Thousands of gulls were attracted to the landfill and other dumps in Jamaica Bay. That year, the Sanitation Department opened the landfill for public use on a trial basis. They accepted large items like appliances and furniture. In July 1966, the Parks Department began spraying pesticides at Edgemere Park. This was to fight mosquitoes, rats, and phragmites. The rats were thought to come from the trash dumping. In March 1968, the playground at Edgemere Park opened.

In May 1970, a group suggested renaming Edgemere Park to Rockaway Community Park. The park was officially renamed in 1971. It was dedicated as Rockaway Community Park on June 17, 1973. While some parts were open, most of the site was still undeveloped.

Toxic Waste and Calls to Close

The south end of Runway 4L at JFK Airport extending into Jamaica Bay, with the Rockaways in the distance.

In September 1973, the Edgemere Landfill was called "the highest land area on the entire Rockaway Peninsula." It was a "huge mound of sand-covered garbage." In late 1975, the city tried ways to stop birds from feeding at the landfill. This was to prevent them from hitting planes at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Methods included poisoning food waste and shredding it. This was done after a plane crashed in November 1975 after hitting seagulls.

In March 1976, the National Transportation Safety Board suggested closing the landfill. This was due to dangers for aircraft. In May 1976, the Sanitation Department said the landfill would stay open until 1985. They denied it caused a bird hazard. Mosquitoes and bad smells were also blamed on the landfill. In November 1979, after many bird strikes at JFK Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration considered suing the city to close the landfills.

During the 1970s, the landfill received hazardous waste daily. Waste oil was also added to control dust. In 1981, it was found that supervisors were paid to allow liquid toxic waste dumping. This happened at five city landfills, including Edgemere. The waste came from large companies.

In February 1983, nearly 3,000 metal drums of waste were found inside the Edgemere Landfill. They were discovered when a tractor accidentally hit them. Many drums contained lead-based paint. The drums were thought to have been buried around 1968. At that time, there were fewer rules about chemical disposal. The landfill was then named a Superfund site.

In May 1983, a report showed that "hundreds of tons" of chemical wastes had been dumped at city landfills. This was sometimes allowed, and sometimes illegal. The study also said the landfills were not built to hold chemical wastes. In 1984, the Edgemere Landfill was listed as a top-priority hazardous-waste site to be cleaned up.

In 1985, it was expected to close the next year. But in February 1986, the Sanitation Department said it would operate until 2007. They argued it took in less garbage than other landfills. This plan was opposed by local officials.

Closing and Capping the Landfill

In July 1987, the city agreed to close the landfill by 1991. Dumping where waste drums were found was banned. By this time, the landfill took in about 1,000 tons of garbage daily. Local groups sued to shut down the landfill. They called it the "most toxic landfill in the world." They said toxic liquid leaked from it daily.

In March 1990, the city and state began removing 7,000 drums of toxic waste. That year, a composting program started at the Edgemere Landfill. It handled 1,000 tons of leaves.

The Edgemere Landfill closed on schedule in July 1991. This left Fresh Kills Landfill as the city's only dump. The closure of Edgemere helped reduce the bird strike danger at JFK Airport.

In summer 1992, a city plan aimed to improve waterfront parks. It urged officials to create a containment plan for the Edgemere Landfill. It also sought to create more parkland and protect wetlands. In July 1992, a $30.4 million settlement was reached in a lawsuit over dumping at Edgemere and other landfills.

Capping of the Edgemere Landfill began in September 1995. This would permanently seal the site. The landfill was covered with layers of soil, a special liner to hold in gases, and clay. The top layer of soil had grass. The landfill was shaped to allow rainwater to drain well. A gas extraction system was built to collect gas from the landfill. This gas could be used as fuel. The capping project finished in 1997, costing $40 million. After that, a 15-year period of monitoring began.

Recent Developments (2000s)

By March 2000, the landfill was reclassified as a site that was "properly closed" but needed "continued management." In 2003, the landfill was declared "cleaned of all toxins."

In May 2007, the Parks Department said Rockaway Community Park had off-leash areas for dogs. In 2009, a local official suggested using the Edgemere Landfill for a solar panel field. This idea was supported by a New York State Assemblywoman.

On October 19, 2013, many trees and shrubs were planted at Rockaway Community Park. This was part of a program to plant a million trees in NYC. The trees would help protect against future storms, especially after Hurricane Sandy in 2012. In 2016, interns found diamondback terrapin turtles in the former landfill.

Future Plans for Rockaway Parks

Empty recreational facilities within Rockaway Community Park. The park is underutilized due to the presence of mosquitoes.

In May 2014, the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation released the Rockaway Parks Conceptual Plan. This plan suggested upgrades to parks after Hurricane Sandy. It included a major renovation of Rockaway Community Park. The existing sports facilities would be improved. A "Gaming Area" with ping pong and shuffleboard would be added. New handball courts would be built. Picnic and barbecue areas would be created.

The three natural areas around the park would be developed. A continuous pathway would go around the park. A paved path would extend south to Beach Channel Drive to make the park easier to reach. A wetland boardwalk would be built. An extra fishing pier and a kayak launch point would be added. The wetlands and forest would be restored. The triangular east natural area might become a skatepark. The Conch Playground would also be improved. Many more mosquito magnets would be installed.

As part of the plan, a Bayside Nature Trail would be created. It would run along the Jamaica Bay Shore. This trail would cross Rockaway Community Park.

In December 2014, another plan suggested a Jamaica Bay Water Trail. Rockaway Community Park would be part of this trail. It would have a main launch point for kayaks.

In April 2016, a company suggested putting solar panels on the Edgemere Landfill. These panels would feed into an underwater electrical cable system.

On October 29, 2017, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced $145 million for projects in the Rockaways. These projects would make the area more resistant to storms. The plan proposes to raise the shoreline around the Edgemere Landfill. It would also restore native wetland plants. These plants would act as a barrier against storm surge.