Hart Island: The City Cemetery

Hart Island has served as NYC’s public burial ground since 1869, with over one million burials. It played a major role during the AIDS epidemic and is likely the largest burial site for AIDS victims in the U.S. In 2021, the administration of Hart Island transferred from the Department of Correction (DOC) to the Parks Department (Parks), with the Human Resources Administration (HRA), the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) now coordinating burial and public services.

Today, Hart Island remains the City’s primary burial site for the unclaimed or unidentified. While many of those interred have next of kin who opted for public burial, others are buried due to lack of contactable family, or because they remain unidentified including fetal remains. Advocates have raised concerns around burial practices and accessibility. In the summer of 2025, Parks released a 20-year capital plan that aims to transform the island into a more accessible, ecologically resilient, and respectful space.

On October 16, 2025, the Committee on General Welfare, chaired by Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala, jointly with the Committee on Parks and Recreation, chaired by Council Member Shekar Krishnan, and the Committee on Health, chaired by Council Member Lynn Schulman, will hold an oversight hearing on the Hart Island Capital Projects Proposal. The Committees will also hear:

• Introduction No. 1408-2025, sponsored by Deputy Speaker Ayala, calling for a study and report on Hart Island’s burial capacity.
• Resolution No. 0775-2025, sponsored by Council Member Farah Louis, urging New York State to increase the funeral cost limit for low-income residents from $3,400 to $6,000.

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Most individuals buried on Hart Island (approximately 62 percent in 2018) have a next of kin who opted for a public burial.

Others may have a next of kin who is unknown or unreachable (33 percent).

Some are unidentified or do not have a next of kin.

Fifteen people or fewer are unidentified each year, and about 21 percent of the burials are fetal remains.

A 2022 City study found that unused land on the island could provide 7,000–10,000 additional burial spaces, extending capacity by 8–12 years. Demolishing existing structures could increase capacity to 35,000 spaces, extending use by up to 69 years.

As of 2024, trenches have held up to 200 adult caskets, raising concerns about dignity and accessibility. Advocates have noted that mass burials can make it difficult for families to locate loved ones and may conflict with cultural practices.

• Parks oversees the island’s maintenance and public access.
• HRA manages burial operations through the Office of Burial Services (OBS), which provides financial assistance and support for public burials. (Burial Assistance, Burial Allowance Application)
• DOHMH issues burial and disinterment permits and maintains death certificates. (Death Certificates)
• OCME investigates certain deaths, manages unclaimed remains, and maintains detailed records to support future identification. (Missing & Unidentified Persons, Identification Research)

These agencies work together to ensure Hart Island remains a respectful and accessible resting place for New York City’s most vulnerable residents.

In 2025, Parks released the Hart Island Concept Plan, a 20-year vision to improve access, preserve the island’s ecology, and enhance the visitor experience.

• A welcome center with restrooms and seating
• A “Remembrance Walk” with shaded areas and lawns
• Adaptive reuse of the historic chapel for reflection
• Shoreline stabilization and sea-level rise adaptations

Public input has shaped the plan, emphasizing the need for more flexible visitation, dignified spaces, and improved infrastructure.

Hart Island records are searchable through CMTS with entries dating back to 1977. The public can look up individuals by name, age, birth date, date of death, or Medical Examiner case number. If no Medical Examiner number is available, the permit number may be used, which can be obtained from Office of Chief Medical Examiner of New York City.

For example, a search for a January 6, 2017 date of death shows:

• Open Data (DOC Burial Records): 0 entries
• Hart Island Lookup Service (Both in the previous DOC system and the current CMTS): 2 entries
• Hart Island Project: 4 entries (2 additional entries beyond the Lookup Service)

These gaps in record transfer and data integrity make locating loved ones more difficult and highlight the need for more accurate, publicly accessible records.

Age of People Buried on Hart Island and National Average

1978 – 2016, Average age of children and adults

During the AIDS epidemic, there was a drop in the average age of those buried on Hart Island, with an extreme drop to 52 years old in 1990.

More recently, the average age of those buried on Hart Island was still much younger than the national average.

In 2016, for those buried on Hart Island, the average age of death was 65 years old, while the average of death nationally was roughly 79 years old.