04-06-2025
Oneida County releases Cornhill revitalization plan
UTICA, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) — Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente released a revitalization plan for Utica's Cornhill neighborhood on Tuesday that intends to turn it into a safer community.
The plan — released on Wednesday, June 4 — was developed in conjunction with the city of Utica and the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties and created by the Oneida County Department of Planning. It outlines investments in infrastructure, enhancements and improvement to support the redevelopment in the neighborhood.
'The people of Cornhill deserve the same investment, care and opportunity as every other neighborhood in our county,' Picente said in a statement. 'This plan takes meaningful steps to deliver safe streets, inviting public spaces and vital infrastructure that connects residents to jobs, housing and community life. It's not just about fixing streets or planting trees. It's about building a Cornhill that honors its past, serves its present and secures a better future for generations to come.'
Several projects have been identified along key roads in Cornhill, including James, West and South Streets. Projects have also been identified in high-impact areas such as Kemble Park and the West Street Impact Center. Some priorities of the plan include:
Development of gateway nodes at key intersections,
Activation of underused public areas with lighting, seating, art and programming,
Improvement of pedestrian and transit access, and
Establishment of a unified maintenance strategy with the city to ensure long-term maintenance of the sites.
Proposed projects include the establishment of activity centers in the neighborhood to improve pedestrian and bicycle accommodations. The plan also proposes an 'urban fitness trail,' which would encircle the Memorial Parkway, as well as several corridors from the Parkway into the city.
'An initiative of this magnitude takes collaboration, partnership and a continued eye on the needs and wants of the residents in Cornhill to ensure equity, opportunity and lasting impact,' Alicia Fernandez Dicks, President/CEO of the Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties, said in a statement. 'Oneida County's improvement plan for the neighborhood compliments the greater Cornhill Revitalization Project by looking beyond the Impact Centers to the streets, accessibility and safety components that will surround them. We commend the County for leading this study as it will ensure that all facets of neighborhood revitalization are implemented, ensuring a strong and vibrant future.'
The plan also emphasizes a phased, fundable approach, which will guide future grant writing, partnerships and capital planning.
You can check out the full plan for the revitalization of the Cornhill neighborhood below:
CornhillPlan_DigitalDownload
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