Freshkills Park is located in western Staten Island, on the location of the former Fresh Kills landfill. In fact, much of this park is actually built on top of old landfill! The team at Freshkills Park has identified two challenges that they are hoping NYCDOE students can develop solutions for in Minecraft. Read on to learn about each challenge!
Challenge #1: North Park Amenities Challenge: North Park is an area of Freshkills Park that features access to waterways for kayaking and fishing, opportunities for hiking and viewing wildlife, and stunning views of the Manhattan skyline. It is primarily a grassland ecosystem, meaning that it has mainly grasses and few trees. It is also being developed on a capped landfill. To protect the landfill cap, we can't dig deep or use any heavy materials. Before North Park opens to the public, we need to add amenities that will make the area accessible and comfortable for the public while still protecting the landfill cap. These include:
-Shade structures (remember: very few trees!)
-Benches
-Comfort stations (bathrooms)
-Water fountains
-Paths (gravel, bike paths- consider accessibility)
-Kayak launch/fishing pier/water access
-Viewpoint areas with binoculars, piers, etc
How can you design amenities for North Park that will meet visitors' needs, while still being made out of lightweight materials so as not to be too heavy to build on the landfill cap?
Challenge #2: Plant 2 Design Challenge: Plant 2 is an area of Freshkills Park that is paved, has buildings, and has access to the water. It is not a part of the landfilled area so there are fewer building restrictions, though it is adjacent to wetlands that should be protected. When this area is open to the public, it will ideally be a center for recreation and activity. Amenities in this area could include:
-food trucks
-visitor center
-museum
-kayak launch
-event space
-concessions
-food trucks, kayak launch, event space, concessions
-wetlands preservation
How can you design amenities for Plant 2 that will meet visitors' needs, while also preserving the wetlands in the area?