For decades, sanitary landfills handled most municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal management in Massachusetts. Under state law and the Massachusetts Solid Waste regulations (310 CMR 19.00), landfills must be designed, operated, and closed to protect human health and the environment. Today, most landfills have been closed and capped in accordance with MassDEP’s regulations and guidance.
Lynn Harbor Park
The former Lynn Landfill, capped around 1990, sat unused for years along the Lynn Harbor waterfront. Routine inspections observed that erosion had exposed parts of the cap which could undermine the integrity of the cap and expose the landfill waste to the surroundings. At the same time, the City was developing a waterfront master plan envisioning a public waterfront trail from the General Edwards Bridge to the Nahant rotary. With its panoramic views of the harbor, Nahant, and Boston skyline, the landfill site became a natural choice for a signature public park.
Following extensive assessment, design and permitting, Lynn Harbor Park officially opened on September 23, 2025.
Conducted wetland delineations and secured key environmental approvals, including Orders of Conditions from the Lynn Conservation Commission, MEPA documentation, and Chapter 91 licensing from MassDEP.
Construction included placing fill material to regrade the site, installing the final capping system, and placing additional topsoil for lawns, trees, and shrubs. The result is a welcoming waterfront space with walking paths, scenic overlooks, and recreational amenities – a transformation from an idle mound into what is quickly becoming one of the City’s most cherished public spaces.
Haverhill Landfill – Northern Mound
The Haverhill Landfill consists of two mounds divided by a utility easement. The Southern Mound was previously capped and now supports a solar array. The Northern Mound, an unlined landfill along the Merrimack River, is being closed and repurposed for recreation and habitat restoration.
The nearby banks of the Merrimack River include bald eagle habitat, though no nesting has been documented on the site. Wood turtle habit is located across Johnson Creek which forms the site’s easterly boundary. To address these two habitat constraints, the closure design incorporated wooded habitat and a nesting pole to support bald eagle activity, and a turtle nesting habitat. Meanwhile, the City’s planned rail trail presented an opportunity to expand public access and create a scenic overlook along the river.
The redevelopment will also include new an athletic field and a passive recreation area for cyclists and residents.
Epsilon led wetland delineations and assessments, contributed to the Environmental Impact Report and Notice of Project Change for MEPA approval, secured a Conservation and Management Permit from the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, and prepared Notices of Intent for both the Haverhill and Groveland Conservation Commissions. The project is currently out to bid, with completion expected within the next few years.
Additional Examples of Beneficial Reuse
Epsilon’s staff have extensive experience conducting wetland delineations and assessments; assisting with planning, design, permitting and construction oversight; and preparing natural resource restoration designs at other beneficial re-use sites such as:
- Millennium Park (formerly the Gardner St Landfill) on the Charles River in Boston’s West Roxbury neighborhood
- Pope John Paul II Park (formerly the Hallet St Landfill) on the Neponset River in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood
- Old Town House Park and the Bayberry Hills GC expansion (formerly the Yarmouth Landfill) in Yarmouth, MA
- The Brookfield Park (formerly the Brookfield Ave Landfill) on Staten Island, NY.
Through thoughtful design and coordination, these projects show how closed landfills can evolve from maintenance challenges into lasting public assets – linking environmental restoration, recreation, and community.
About the Expert
For more information about Epsilon’s capabilities or assistance with wetland assessment, delineation, and complex permitting at landfills or other brownfield sites, contact Dwight Dunk, ddunk@epsilonassociates.com.
Dwight Dunk, LPD, PWS, BCES is a Principal with over 35 years of experience. He has applied his ecological and policy expertise to projects nationwide servicing federal, state, local, and private-sector clients. Dr. Dunk’s scientific expertise is in the fields of freshwater and coastal wetland ecology; while his permitting and policy expertise focuses on developing and implementing strategies to secure approvals for National Environmental Policy Act documents and state-level equivalents, as well as federal, state, and local environmental approvals.