Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis Environmental Research at Freshkills
Office of Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis
Freshkills Park in Staten Island will receive nearly $687,000 in federal funding to expand environmental research, habitat monitoring, scientific equipment and student conservation training.
Freshkills Park in Staten Island will receive nearly $687,000 in federal funding to expand its Science & Stewardship Program and establish resources for long-term environmental research. Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis announced the funding alongside Mark Murphy, president of the Freshkills Park Alliance and administrator of the park. The investment will support scientific equipment, environmental monitoring tools, data systems and greenhouse resources for studying the park's grasslands, wetlands, shorelines and wildlife. Researchers will collect baseline environmental data to help guide future restoration and habitat maintenance. The program will also provide students with internships and hands-on conservation training as Freshkills continues its transformation from a former landfill into a public park and research landscape.
Malliotakis Announces Federal Funding to Expand Science & Stewardship Program at Freshkills Park
Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) today joined Mark Murphy, President of the Freshkills Park Alliance and Administrator of Freshkills Park, to announce nearly $687,000 in federal funding she secured to expand the Science & Stewardship Program at Freshkills Park. The funding will provide the initial framework, infrastructure and field equipment necessary to establish long-term environmental research at the park and support its continued transformation from a former landfill into a hub for conservation.
The funding will support research equipment, environmental monitoring tools, data systems and greenhouse resources to help scientists study the park’s wildlife and habitats. Researchers will collect baseline data on the condition of Freshkills’ grasslands, wetlands and shorelines, which will help guide restoration and habitat maintenance in the years ahead. The funding will also provide opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience through internships and training in environmental science and conservation.
“Freshkills was once the world’s largest landfill, and today we are helping transform it into a place for environmental research, education and recreation,” said Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis. “I’m proud to have secured this federal funding to expand the Science & Stewardship Program at Freshkills Park, give researchers the tools they need to study and protect this unique landscape, and create new learning opportunities for students. This project will help ensure that a site once associated with waste and pollution can benefit Staten Islanders for generations to come.”
“This congressional appropriation is a transformative investment in the future of the Freshkills Park Alliance and our science and research programs. We are deeply grateful to Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis and her dedicated staff for their unwavering support and tireless three-year effort to secure this critical funding. This investment will help us expand our research capabilities, advance environmental science, and establish Freshkills Park as a premier regional destination for scientific research, education, and discovery,” said Mark Murphy, President, Freshkills Park Alliance.
