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Fresh Kills

What is fresh kills?

· Sarah Mitchell

Key facts

Location western Staten Island, New York City[1]
Type stream and freshwater estuary[1]
Name origin Middle Dutch 'kille'[2]
Meaning of 'kille' riverbed or water channel[2]
Landfill use period 1948 to 2001[3]

Fresh Kills is a stream and freshwater estuary in western Staten Island, New York City, and the name also refers to the former Fresh Kills Landfill on that site.

Context

Fresh Kills is a stream and freshwater estuary in western Staten Island, New York City; the name is also used for the former Fresh Kills Landfill on that site [1]. The name comes from the Middle Dutch word 'kille', meaning 'riverbed' or 'water channel' [2]. The landfill was used from 1948 to 2001 [3].

Documented claims

  • Fresh Kills was the site of the Fresh Kills Landfill, described as New York City's principal landfill. [1]
  • Before the landfill opened in 1948, the site was primarily tidal creeks and coastal marsh. [2]
  • The landfill is described as having been the world's largest landfill. [3]

Questions and answers

Why did Fresh Kills close?

The Fresh Kills Landfill closed in 2001 [3].

What does 'Fresh Kills' mean?

The name comes from the Middle Dutch word 'kille', meaning 'riverbed' or 'water channel' [2].

Sources

  1. About Fresh Kills — nyc.gov (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. Before 1948: Fresh Kills — timeline.freshkillspark.org (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. Freshkills Park - CityNeighborhoods.NYC — cityneighborhoods.nyc (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Places