In a renewed push to reopen Mount Vernon's contaminated Memorial Field, Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas says part of it could be ready by next fall.

Many residents recall the field as an iconic city location, but not anymore.

Nowadays, about 12,000-cubic-yards of construction debris litter the park, which is taped and fenced off.

County Legislator Lyndon Williams says the Legislature approved plans to rebuild the field in 2009. Work began in 2011. But the cleanup has repeatedly stalled.

An environmental study found that contaminated materials had been dumped in the park. What's worse, rain runoff spread that contamination into nearby streams and even the Hutchinson River.

Mayor Thomas says the cleanup is underway and may be completed in 12 to 18 months.