North Meadow
2024 - 2042
North Meadow
The North Meadow of Hart Island has been used for burials since 1869. In 1872, New York City began using a system of mass burials, similar to those from the American Civil War. Burials in this area consist of 150 people per numbered plot, with each box's position recorded in a burial ledger.
Starting in 1931, the city began reusing plots after 25-50 years, once bodies had fully decomposed to skeletal remains. Most of the estimated 750,000 burials that took place here between 1869 and 2003 are now unmarked. Adult burials were moved to the Southern Plain in 1989.
The oldest intact graves on Hart Island are located in the North Meadow, making it the ideal starting point for the new burial strategy. This new approach involves conducting individual burials one foot above the existing mass graves, without disturbing them. Burials would be performed as needed, once or twice a week, using the method shown in the provided illustration.
The Burial Process
Mowed pathways and hedge rows frame views of the Long Island Sound
Over time, the burial mounds would subside and become less apparent. Simultaneously, deep-rooted meadow plants would take their place, both visually and functionally, by helping to stabilize the island's soil. These meadow plantings would provide a better habitat for wildlife and require less maintenance than the current lawn, aligning with the city's sustainability and climate action goals.
Hedgerows would be planted over time to make the island feel more personal and less vast. They would frame views of the Long Island Sound and assist with wayfinding. Each hedgerow would be unique due to varying plant species, offering visitors a more intuitive way to navigate the island than relying on signs. Additionally, these hedgerows would contribute to the island's habitat value and act as windbreaks, making the area more pleasant in the winter and reducing the erosive force of the wind.
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
