The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has begun removing lead-contaminated soil from a long-vacant site in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, marking another step toward turning a former industrial parcel into usable community space.

Crews started work this week near the intersection of 16th Street and Peoria Street, where elevated levels of lead were found in the soil. The cleanup is expected to take several months and is designed to prepare the property for future mixed-use development, including a planned public greenspace.

The site sits in an area historically tied to lead production and transportation, which officials say is the likely source of the contamination. Previous cleanup efforts in the broader neighborhood have already involved federal, state, local, and private partners.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, the City of Chicago, and the BNSF Railway have all played roles in earlier remediation work nearby.

The latest round of cleanup began after the city referred the property to the EPA in early 2025 for further investigation. Soil testing confirmed lead levels high enough to require removal.

During the process, crews are excavating contaminated soil and hauling it off for proper disposal. Dust control measures are in place to keep particles from spreading beyond the site, and air monitoring is being used to make sure those protections are working. Once excavation is complete, the area will be refilled with clean soil and seeded to reduce erosion.

For residents, the work is less about what’s being taken away and more about what’s coming next: safer ground and the potential for new public space in a neighborhood shaped for decades by heavy industry.

EPA officials say the cleanup is intended to reduce long-term exposure risks while clearing the path for redevelopment that can better serve the community.