Little Italy Nature Preserve Ribbon Cutting
Little Italy Nature Preserve Ribbon Cutting Celebrates Local History and Lasting Conservation
The Genesee Valley Conservancy and the Town of York Historical Society celebrated the official opening of the Little Italy Nature Preserve with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 12, 2026, in Retsof.
Little Italy was the first European salt mining town that existed in the Town of York in Livingston County, New York from 1890 to 1923. It was populated almost exclusively by Italian immigrants. These exposed foundations are the last tangible remains of local Italian history and have endured for over 130 years.
NYS Representative Andrea Bailey, NYS Senator Pam Helming, Genesee Valley Conservancy Executive Director Ben Gajewski, and Little Italy Stewards and Land Donors, Mark Occhioni and Dave Nagle were in attendance.
NYS Representative Andrea Bailey shared “The opening of the Little Italy Nature Preserve is about more than preserving land. It is about honoring the history of the families who lived and worked here and the important role they played in shaping our community. Preserving our local history ensures that the stories of those who came before us are not forgotten and that future generations can appreciate the people and traditions that helped shape our communities. My sincere thanks to the landowners, the Genesee Valley Conservancy, the Town of York Historical Society, and everyone who worked together to make this project possible. Through their generosity and dedication, this special place will not only preserve an important part of Livingston County’s history but also provide an opportunity for generations to come to enjoy the natural beauty of the Genesee Valley and connect with its past.”
NYS Senator Pam Helming outlined that “more than a century ago, Italian immigrants who came to work in the salt mines built a close-knit neighborhood there called Little Italy. The brick foundations of their homes still stand among the trees, and now they’re part of the new Little Italy Nature Preserve.”
Little Italy was a salt-mining community in the Town of York from 1890 to 1923, populated almost exclusively by Italian immigrants. Today, exposed brick foundations remain as tangible connections to the families who lived and worked there.
In 1997, Mark Occhioni and fellow steward Dave purchased the 75-acre property to protect those foundations and the surrounding landscape, which includes a 60-acre forest, a creek, and a three-acre reservoir. For nearly three decades, they maintained trails, led tours, and welcomed visitors at no cost. The property also served as an outdoor classroom and cultural heritage site for neighboring York Central School.
In June 2025, Mark and Dave donated the land to the Genesee Valley Conservancy, entrusting the organization with its permanent protection and stewardship. The Frank DiMino Foundation provided the funding to transfer the ownership of Little Italy to the Genesee Valley Conservancy, underwrite the initial stewardship costs, and provide a generous matching gift challenge to the local community of $200,000. As a land trust, the Genesee Valley Conservancy will steward and preserve this property in perpetuity while ensuring public access to this unique Italian heritage site. Former Little Italy owner Mark Occhioni shared, “I bought Little Italy to protect it during my lifetime. I donated Little Italy to Genesee Valley Conservancy to protect it forever.”
The names of the families who lived in Little Italy remain in our community today: on sports jerseys under Friday night lights, on the mailboxes of rural routes, and on the helmets of salt miners who work the same vein as their ancestors did some 180 years ago.