"I have been lucky to be at the end of a twenty-year vision," Town of Urbana Supervisor K. David Durepo said when the state dedicated Glenn H. Curtiss Park this spring. For the park itself, that's true. For the Hammondsport waterfront, the plan is still in its middle stage. The park on the Keuka Lake inlet is one link in a walking route meant to run from Champlin Beach to the Shethar Street storefronts. This is its first fall, and the pier at the far end is still under construction.
Phase Two of a Shoreline Plan
The New York Department of State announced the park's completion in mid-May. The Observer-Review covered the dedication on May 22. More than $1.26 million from the state's Local Waterfront Revitalization Program and town funds paid for the park and its walking connections to Champlin Beach. Community donations covered a significant share as well.
The state describes the park as linking three public parks along the lakeshore. That's the key fact about it. The Department of State calls this work Phase 2. Phase 1 already built a pedestrian bridge over the inlet, plus the boardwalks and shared-use path that tie the park to Champlin Beach. Phase 2 finished the park at one end of that connection.
The plan goes back further than the ribbon-cutting suggests. Durepo traced it to Thomas Chadwick, a former town board member who served as "Clerk of the Works." He credited town grants administrator David Oliver with keeping the idea alive from beginning to end. Oliver, a resident since 1975, said the project began "nearly twenty years ago with local volunteers, private donations and a shared vision." Many others helped build it. The state credits the Friends of Hammondsport Area Trails and Parks, the consulting firm Saratoga Associates, local contractors, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and students from the local high school and Alfred State College.
The work follows two documents. The first is the 2015 Keuka Lake Waterfront Master Plan. The second is the 2024 NY Forward Strategic Investment Plan, which came with a $4.5 million joint award to Hammondsport and Urbana. The park is the first finished piece. The rest of the route depends on the other projects.
Walking It in Order
Today's route, from the park to the beach, is built in layers:
- The park entrance. A new entrance and parking area serves the inlet side, next to Hammondsport's historic "Cradle of Aviation."
- The park grounds. A stone trail and a shared-use path run past new lawns, landscaping, benches, picnic tables, kiosks and interpretive signs. The signs cover Glenn H. Curtiss, who made the first announced public flight in 1909 and later became known as the "Father of Naval Aviation."
- The water's edge. Improvements to the concrete boardwalk added a bump-out, railings and landings, and an ADA-compliant kayak launch sits along it. Seasonal lighting is part of the build.
- Across the inlet. The Phase 1 pedestrian bridge and boardwalk carry the path along the shoreline toward Champlin Beach.
- The end of the line. The path reaches Champlin Beach and the pier construction site.
The kayak launch makes the park useful beyond walking. On a calm October morning, a paddler can park, carry a boat down to an accessible launch, and be on the inlet without crossing a beach. The town hasn't posted a season for the launch or winter maintenance rules for the paths. Its own parks page still lists Curtiss Park as "coming soon," so it isn't a reliable guide to current hours.
The Pier at the End Is Still Open Work
The Champlin Beach Pier replacement is the link that turns the route from a park-to-beach walk into a water-to-town connection. It costs $2.8 million, with $1.35 million from NY Forward and $1.47 million from the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program. The plan removes the deteriorated old pier and installs a fully ADA-compliant dock system with a gazebo, tour-boat accommodation and other amenities on the water.
The timeline has shifted. Last spring, Steuben County Industrial Development Agency Director Jamie Johnson told WVIN that the Town of Urbana had signed a construction contract, that work would start in early July, and that it should be done "by this October." The state didn't announce the groundbreaking until late August. The Observer-Review covered it on August 28. That report gives no completion date. As of October 10, we haven't found any later public update on progress, a revised finish date, or whether parts of the shoreline are fenced during the work.
Village officials want the pier for more than swimmers. Hammondsport Mayor Jean Jensen called the replacement "a dream for many years." She said it would add docking for boaters and give "visitors and boaters easy access to the downtown restaurants, stores and attractions." The state framed it the same way. The goal is to get boaters to tie up and walk into the village. Public docking is a separate matter from private dock rights. We cover that distinction for lake parcels in our guide to deeded access on Keuka.
Off-season construction costs the beach little. The town offers lifeguarded swimming at Champlin Beach in summer, and the beach restrooms are open only when lifeguards are on duty.
The Link Back to Shethar Street
The pier leads boaters toward downtown, but the walk from the waterfront to downtown still needs work. Several NY Forward projects are aimed at that stretch. None of them has a confirmed public start date yet.
| NY Forward project | Award | What the plan describes |
|---|---|---|
| Liberty Street and Mill Street reconstruction | $1,606,000 | Pedestrian-friendly streets and drainage fixes between downtown and the waterfront |
| Historic Curtiss School renovation | $885,000 | Rental housing and multi-purpose community space |
| Branding plan and Historic Heritage Trail | $362,000 | Wayfinding signs connecting visitors to area attractions |
| Bike-friendly coffee shop and café | $172,000 | A rest stop and service station for cyclists at a former service station |
| 31 Shethar Street renovation | $118,000 | Added egress for a lower-level restaurant and bar, new kitchen and wine cellar |
The Liberty and Mill Street project is the one that physically connects downtown to the water. Its stated purpose is better pedestrian access between downtown and the waterfront, plus fixes for long-standing drainage problems. The heritage trail would add signs along the same route. Together with the pier, these projects explain why Hammondsport and Urbana were named the Southern Tier's second-round NY Forward winner in 2024.
Shethar Street has already changed this year. Casa Mezcal Flavors of Mexico opened Nacion Taco Hammondsport in late May, in the former Burgers & Beers space, according to The Leader. The 31 Shethar renovation would put a restaurant and bar a few doors away. No operator or opening date has been announced.
Up the Hill, an Anchor That Went Dark
The waterfront plan grew around a village that lost its biggest wine landmark. Pleasant Valley Winery, founded in 1860, is Federally Bonded Winery #1 and the second-largest winery facility in New York. It closed last year after 165 years. On July 24, the governor's office announced that Vine Enterprises, LLC plans to invest at least $47 million to restart production. The company also plans to relaunch legacy brands, reopen the historic Champagne Cellars and hire 69 people, with up to $12 million in Empire State Development grants. CEO Paul Hillen called it a "multi-phased, multi-year initiative." Work was set to begin this fall. We haven't found any public update since the announcement on a closing, tours or a Champagne Cellars reopening date.
Until the pier is finished, the completed park is where this new phase of the waterfront starts. The next fixed date on the village calendar is Christmas in the Park, which the Keuka Lake Association lists for December 12, 2026, as its 50th anniversary.
If you own on Keuka's south end and want to know how a finished pier, a rebuilt Liberty Street, or a working Pleasant Valley could change interest in your stretch of shoreline, Nick Davoli follows these projects closely and is happy to talk it through. Learn more about the area on our Keuka Lake page, or reach out to talk about your property. Let's Connect.
