New York Plans to Improve Access to Hart Island, the Nation's Largest Public Cemetery

Managed for decades by the Department of Corrections, the island could soon become a public park with regular ferry service and expanded visiting hours.

2 minute read

October 27, 2021, 5:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Abandoned buildings on Hart Island

Adam Moss / Hart Island

First used in 1869 as a public cemetery for unclaimed bodies and remains of the indigent, New York's Hart Island, home to the remains of over one million people and the nation's largest public cemetery, has a long-held reputation as the final resting place for the unidentified, the poor, and victims of epidemics like the 1918 flu pandemic and the AIDS crisis. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, as many as ten percent of New York's COVID victims were buried in one of the island's mass graves. Family members wanting to visit relatives' gravesites at the notorious 'potter's field' could choose one of two options, "both of which operate on predetermined schedules: monthly gazebo visits for any member of the public and monthly gravesite visits for family." Brody Ford reports on the effort to redesign the island, honoring the dead while making it a public amenity for the living.

After years of being managed by the state's Department of Corrections, Hart Island was handed over to the city's Parks Department this month. "Making it a more accessible and inviting space will be a challenge given the island’s deteriorating  buildings, ongoing burials and the need to establish a regular ferry service to the island," writes Ford. "More than $50 million has been allocated for the destruction of many of these structures and creation of new burial space," and "[m]any advocates envision full public accessibility with a museum to honor generations of often marginalized and forgotten New Yorkers."

For visitors like Kimberly Overton, the transition is promising. "It was nice to see a park ranger uniform and not a correctional officer," she said, but her visit was still guided by strict rules. The Parks department says they are still "determining what public access looks like post-pandemic," weighing plans to increase public access with the need to maintain the island's role as an active municipal cemetery. "The Parks Department is waiting on a city study of burial capacity before sketching up further plans, and a framework to improve transportation access is due next year."

Friday, October 15, 2021 in Bloomberg CityLab

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Yellow electric school bus with preteen students exiting.

California Invests Additional $5M in Electric School Buses

The state wants to electrify all of its school bus fleets by 2035.

April 25 - Associated Press

City Hall building in Austin, Texas.

Austin Launches $2M Homelessness Prevention Fund

A new grant program from the city’s Homeless Strategy Office will fund rental assistance and supportive services.

April 25 - Spectrum Local News

Brick school building with mid-sized tree on front lawn.

Alabama School Forestry Initiative Brings Trees to Schoolyards

Trees can improve physical and mental health for students and commnity members.

April 25 - Governing