Central Landing
2024 - 2110
Central Landing
The Central Landing is a significant location on Hart Island where institutional buildings once stood until their removal in 2022 to make the island safe for visitors and create new burial space. A chapel built by Catholic Charities in 1931 remains a ruin.
This area became active for adult burials around 2010, and many COVID-19 burials were conducted here between 2020 and 2022. Beginning in June 2024, the size of mass graves in this area increased by 33% to 200 adults per plot.
Due to its proximity to the ferry, this area is easily accessible for visitors. New York City Parks is planning to build a visitor center nearby.
Meadows Planting and Grave Reuse
After thirty years, remains could be placed in small boxes creating space for a new burial.
By 2010, this area of the island began a process of grave reuse. During this phase, older single graves were excavated and the skeletal remains were collected in new mortuary boxes. A new casket was then placed in the burial plot, with the mortuary box containing the original remains placed at its head.
This process keeps the original remains on-site while making room for new burials. The cycle is designed to repeat in 30 years or more.
Landscape of Hope
This project was conducted in collaboration with landscape architecture researchers at The Ohio State University Knowlton School and was made possible with support of the Lily Auchicloss Foundation and through a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Landscape Design Team Members: Jake Boswell, Jack Gruber, Brendan Ayer and Melinda Hunt
©2025 The Hart Island Project
