Staten Island had the Fresh Kills Landfill , which was the world 's largest landfill before closing in 2001 , although it was temporarily reopened that year to receive debris from the September 11 attacks . The landfill is being redeveloped as Freshkills Park , an area devoted to restoring habitat ; the park will become New York City 's second largest public park when completed . As in much of North America , human habitation appeared in the island fairly rapidly after the Wisconsin glaciation . Archaeologists have recovered tool evidence of Clovis culture activity dating from about 14,000 years ago . This evidence was first discovered in 1917 in the Charleston section of the island . Various Clovis artifacts have been discovered since then , on property owned by Mobil Oil
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Staten Island