Clute Park improvements are reaching finishing stages

WATKINS GLEN--Watkins Glen Mayor Luke Leszyk has issued a public statement to help inform the community regarding the current status of Clute Park. The park, which is currently undergoing a $5 million update and work to update the brine pumps operated by Cargill, has had limited access for park-goers and is populated by construction equipment and workers.
"The work is mostly being done to turn the park into a year-round destination instead of just seasonal," said Leszyk. "Before, the old bathrooms we had to winterize, now the [new bathrooms] can stay open year-round."
In an effort to mitigate the total amount of time the park was under construction, the decision was made to have three different projects occurring at the same time. While limiting the park while the various construction projects proceed Leszyk said the tradeoff of spending less time on the work will be worth it.
We are hoping to be finished by the middle of June, landscaping is usually the last step and they should be starting by the beginning of June. Optimistically we can be done by the middle or late June," Leszyk stated.
As to the price tag, the work is being paid for through a combination of state grants and funding. Of the three projects, one is being performed by Cargill in an attempt to update the brine pumps located throughout the park. While Clute Park is a village park, the property is actually owned by Cargill and as such have granted lifetime access. According to Leszyk, this aspect of the work should be done within the next few weeks.
"Those small buildings that look like small sheds that you see about the park are actually well heads that pump brine water from far below the lake and send this to the plant to be processed," Leszyk mentioned in the statement.
The second aspect of the work being done is the removal of 15 very old and very large trees that Leszyk said have already died.
"I am unsure what caused their death but they no longer had leaves and were shedding bark. These trees were becoming an extreme hazard as they were starting to drop large limbs that could cause serious harm to someone," Leszyk wrote.
Three new trees will be planted for every one that was lost. Leszyk said he expects the planting to take place soon.
The final aspect of the work is perhaps the largest and most expensive. Construction is currently ongoing for the new event center, bathhouse, ice rink and splash pad.
"The landscaping and replanting will begin the first of June," Leszyk said. "Along with grass reseeding, we are putting in 32 canopy trees, five ornamental trees that will be 10 to 12 feet high and 12 conifer trees for a total of 49 trees in that area."
Leszyk added he understands the public's frustration with the current status of the park.
"I am a firm believer that you leave something better than how you found it," Leszyk stated. "When all these projects are completed and we see the results there will be a better understanding and I hope you are impressed."
"It wasn't that long ago that we put in a kayak launch and some said that it was not a good idea and no one will use it," Leszyk said. "Good luck finding a parking spot there in the summer."