Shirley Chisholm State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shirley Chisholm State Park |
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The Pennsylvania Avenue section of the park in 2019; the Fountain Avenue portion is in the background.
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| Type | State park |
| Location | Spring Creek, Brooklyn,New York, United States |
| Area | 407 acres (165 ha) |
| Created | July 2019 |
| Operated by | New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation |
| Open | All year, 9 a.m. to dusk |
| Status | Under construction |
Shirley Chisholm State Park is a large state park in southeastern Brooklyn, New York City. It covers about 407 acres (165 hectares). The park is built on top of two old landfills, which are places where trash used to be buried. It is located between the Belt Parkway and Spring Creek Park to the north, and Jamaica Bay to the south.
The first parts of the park opened in 2019. The park is still being built, and it is expected to be finished by 2021. It's a great place for people to enjoy nature and outdoor activities.
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What Makes Shirley Chisholm State Park Special?
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Shirley Chisholm State Park is built on what used to be the Pennsylvania Avenue and Fountain Avenue Landfills. It has two main sections, or peninsulas, that stretch out into the water. The western part is near Starrett City, and the eastern part is close to Gateway Center and the Spring Creek neighborhood.
The park is named after Shirley Chisholm. She was a very important person who represented the area in the U.S. Congress. She was the first black woman to be elected to Congress. She also became the first black woman to try to become president for a major political party.
How Big Is the Park?
At 407 acres, this park is the biggest state park in New York City. It is also the third-largest park in Brooklyn. Only Marine Park and Prospect Park are bigger. The highest point in the park is on the Fountain Avenue side, reaching 140 feet (about 43 meters) above sea level.
What Can You Do at the Park?
The first part of the park cost $20 million to build. It includes about 10 miles (16 kilometers) of paths for biking and hiking. There are also places where you can get close to the water and a pier. The pier is located at the end of Pennsylvania Avenue.
Shirley Chisholm State Park also has a "bike library." This is a cool program run by Bike New York. It lets park visitors borrow bikes for free. There is also a large painting, called a mural, of Shirley Chisholm. A Brooklyn artist named Danielle Mastrion created it. More parts of the park opened later, including a new entrance and more educational programs.
The Park's History: From Landfill to Green Space
Before it became a park, this area was mostly marshland and water. In the 1930s, there were plans to build parks and highways here. In 1942, the city decided to use the site for dumping trash. This was part of a plan to create new parkland after World War II.
When Were the Landfills Used?
Trash dumping at the Pennsylvania Avenue Landfill started in 1956. The Fountain Avenue Landfill began operations a few years later, around 1961 or 1963. At its busiest, these two landfills received over 8,000 tons of trash every day. This was almost 40 percent of all the city's garbage.
Over the years, some harmful materials were also dumped there. In 1972, the Gateway National Recreation Area was created around Jamaica Bay. The two landfill sites became part of this area in 1974. As part of this, the city agreed to close and cover both landfills by 1985. The Pennsylvania Avenue Landfill closed in 1979. The Fountain Avenue Landfill closed in December 1985.
Cleaning Up the Landfills
Around 1990, the landfills were named a "Superfund" site. This means they needed a major cleanup because of the harmful materials. In 1991, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) took charge of cleaning them up. In 1995, people living near Jamaica Bay were worried about pollution from the landfills. They reached an agreement with the city to fix the dumps.
In 2002, the NYCDEP started a big cleanup project that cost $235 million. They put in a special barrier underground and a waterproof cap over the trash. This helps keep the area safe. After the Gateway Center mall opened nearby in 2002, a new part of Spring Creek Park was built around it. This opened in 2003.
After that, many trees were planted on the Pennsylvania Avenue Landfill. Over 1.2 million cubic yards (about 917,000 cubic meters) of fresh soil were spread over the landfill. This soil was up to 4 feet (1.2 meters) deep. About 35,000 plants and grasses were planted in this new soil. Hendrix Creek, which is nearby, was also cleaned up.
How the Park Was Developed
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In January 2018, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced plans to build a 407-acre state park. It would be along 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometers) of the Jamaica Bay coastline. This park would connect the Pennsylvania Avenue and Fountain Avenue landfills. The plan included a $15 million renovation. This would add paths, places to buy food, restrooms, and fun activity areas. The state would work with the city and the National Park Service on this project.
The state park was named after Shirley Chisholm in September of that year. Another $20 million was given to the park in April 2019. On July 2, 2019, the governor and other officials held a special ceremony. They officially opened Shirley Chisholm State Park to the public. The first part of the park was the Pennsylvania Avenue Landfill. The second part, the Fountain Avenue Landfill, opened a few months later. The entire park is expected to be finished by 2021.
