Staff Report / August 4, 2026
CORNING, N.Y. – A major environmental restoration initiative is getting underway in Steuben County as officials prepare to launch a $14.5 million cleanup effort at Denison Park.
According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the remediation project is necessary because testing revealed the park’s soil contains elevated levels of harmful heavy metals and elements, including mercury, lead, boron, and arsenic.
Key details regarding the project timeline and scope include:
- Two-Phase Plan: The cleanup will be executed in two distinct phases—phase one is estimated to take four months, followed by a second phase lasting six months.
- Projected Completion: The DEC expects all remediation work at the park to wrap up by the fall of 2027.
- Total Investment: The multi-phase environmental cleanup carries an estimated total cost of $14.5 million.
