March 15, 2024 - In this issue: | |
Clinton Avenue Construction Project Public Meeting | |
Tenth Annual Earth Fair Returns May 11, 2024 | |
Calling Artists! Post Office Park Small Monument Competition | |
Mid-Hudson Energy Transition Programs & Public Meeting | |
2024 Distinguished Artist Award Nominations Open | |
Sojourner Truth State Park Public Meeting | |
City of Kingston Job Opportunities | |
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Mayor's Message:
Dear Friends -
This week we announced the return of the Earth Fair on May 11, 2024. We are proud to return the City of Kingston’s tenth annual event to the waterfront.
We are also excited to offer a rain location so we won’t be rained out! The Earth Fair will move to the Hutton Brickyards pavilion should there be a forecast for inclement weather.
Our partners at Clearwater, Radio Kingston, and The 8th Step have lined up an incredible array of performances and musical guests who will grace two stages throughout the event. Mark your calendar and join us for this family-friendly event!
-Steve
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Clinton Avenue Transportation Project Public Meeting | |
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A public information meeting for the Clinton Avenue Uptown Transportation Improvements Project will be held on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at Old Dutch Church, 272 Wall Street.
In advance of construction on Clinton Avenue from Albany Avenue to John Street, the City of Kingston will host a public meeting on April 2 from 5:00pm to 7:00 pm at the Old Dutch Church. City staff, consultants, and contractors will be available to help answer stakeholder questions about project scope, maintenance of traffic and sidewalks during construction and more.
“The project area is one of the gateways to the historic Stockade District. We are pleased that these infrastructure improvements will greatly increase the safety and ease of travel for our residents in this highly trafficked area,” said Mayor Noble. “This open house-style informational meeting will give everyone potentially affected by this project an opportunity to ask questions and hear directly from key project staff.”
The Clinton Avenue project will improve pedestrian access, traffic circulation, and key intersections within the Stockade Business District. The Albany/Clinton Avenue intersection will receive a replacement traffic signal, and the Clinton/Westbrook intersection will feature a new traffic signal. Sidewalk, curb, drainage, lighting, and paving improvements, along with landscaping, signage and striping improvements will be installed.
City Engineer John Schultheis said, “This project will advance the City’s goals of enhancing safety, efficiency, and convenience for all road users. We thank our funding partners at the NYS Department of State for their recognition of the value of these improvements to Uptown and to the City more broadly. We know that projects such as this can be disruptive, but we will communicate and work with the community to minimize these negative effects during construction.”
Work is expected to begin in May and continue through the end of 2024. For more information, please visit Engage Kingston.
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10th Annual Earth Fair Returns History Month | |
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The 10th annual Earth Fair will return to the Kingston Waterfront on Saturday, May 11, 2024, from 11:00am to 5:00pm at T.R. Gallo Park.
Earth Fair is a free, family event hosted in partnership with Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, The Hudson River Maritime Museum, Radio Kingston, Live Well Kingston, Climate Smart Kingston, Catskill Mountain Keeper, and New Yorkers for Clean Power.
The 2024 Earth Fair will feature a Native American Water Ceremony, live performances by the Center for Creative Education’s Community Drummers and Energy Dance Company, the Mid-Hudson Juggling Association, and the Arm of the Sea Theater. Music performances will include Taina Asili, the B2’s, Guy Davis, Emma’s Revolution, Magpie, Piedmont Blūz Acoustic Duo, Pulso de Barro, The Rix, Sundub, and a Celebration of Peter Seeger.
The 2024 Earth Fair will feature kid’s activities and games, face painting, a solar-powered merry-go-round, free Solaris boat rides, Clearwater tours, and local food vendors.
The City will be collecting electronic waste such as computers and televisions and offering refrigerants collection - free disposal of old refrigerators, freezers, dehumidifiers, or air conditioners. Participants are also encouraged to bring gently used closed or household items for the Earth Day Exchange.
Parking will be limited. A free UCAT shuttle bus will be running between the Cornell Street and Kingston Point Beach parking lots and T.R. Gallo Park all day, and a bike valet will be available at T.R. Gallo Park.
The Kingston Earth Fair is free and open to all. The Kingston Earth Fair is made possible by generous sponsors. This year’s sponsors include Herzog’s Home and Paint Centers/Kingston Plaza, Hot Water Solutions (HWS), Ulster Federal Credit Union, Fruition Chocolate Works, Ulster Savings Bank, Chicory Naturalist, NYS Solar Farm, and Rycor Heating + Cooling.
For more information, including exhibitor registration or volunteering opportunities, visit www.kingston-ny.gov/earthfair.
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Calling Artists! Post Office Park Monument Competition | |
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Mayor Noble is pleased to announce the launch of a Small Monument Competition, coinciding with the current construction of the Post Office Park at Broadway and Grand Street.
The City of Kingston has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to gather concepts for a monument or sculpture design, which would be fabricated and permanently installed in Post Office Park.
Applicants must provide concepts that pay homage to the memory of the lost post office that once stood on the site and was torn down during urban renewal in 1970. Built between 1904-1908, the post office was a notable limestone and granite structure with a rounded façade and Classical and Beaux Arts design elements.
Post Office Park’s design/construction plans include two 3 feet by 3 feet round cement pedestals for the support of artwork. The City requests proposals from interested individuals, companies, or partners, including but not limited to sculptors, architects, fabricators and other types of designers and manufacturers, to create and build a small monument for permanent placement on one of the pedestals. Artwork for the second pedestal will be selected in a separate future program. Applicants may identify which pedestal is more suitable for their design. The full RFP outlining the details and requirements is located here.
The competition deadline is Wednesday, May 1, 2024. The winning design is expected to be announced in June. More details at Engage Kingston.
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Free Mid-Hudson Energy Programs & Public Meeting | |
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Join local experts from Mid-Hudson Energy Transition to discuss Empower+, HEAP, and their Housing Demonstration Project. These free programs can make your home healthy, energy efficient, and save you money!
Learn how to save at the Kingston Library temporary location, 61 Crown St. on March 27 at 6:00pm. Register here: https://bit.ly/MHET_savemoney
Mid-Hudson Energy Transition is also looking for potential Board Members. The description and application are at this link.
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2024 Distinguished Artist Award Nominations Open! | |
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Nominations are open for the 2024 Kingston Distinguished Artist Award!
Established in 2018 through a partnership with Mayor Noble and the Kingston Arts Commission, the Distinguished Artist Award is a biennial recognition of creative excellence, artistic accomplishments, and community involvement.
Nominees for the Distinguished Artist Awards must be a resident of Kingston for a minimum of two years. Nominations can be creatives from any artistic discipline including, but not limited to: painting, sculpture, literature, architecture, theater, film, and music. The awardee will be chosen based upon the level of their artistry, commitment to the art form, commitment to the community, and recognition in the field locally, nationally, or internationally.
Nominations forms are available at www.kingston-ny.gov/distinguishedartists and are due by 4:30pm on Friday, March 22, 2024.
The awardee will be recognized at an award ceremony and reception held at City Hall on May 23, 2024, and hold the distinction for two years.
The Distinguished Artist Award was presented to musician/composer Peter Wetzler and artist/poet Julie Hedrick in 2018, to musician Lara Hope in 2020 and to performance artist Jaguar Mary X in 2022.
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Sojourner Truth State Park Public Meeting | |
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The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation and the Palisades Interstate Parks Commission (PIPC) invite you to a virtual meeting to hear all about the design progress for Sojourner Truth State Park.
Thursday, March 21, 2024
6:00–7:30pm
Via Zoom
This virtual gathering provides an opportunity for the public to continue to gain insight into the Sojourner Truth State Park project and provide feedback.
Field Operations, the landscape architecture firm spearheading the design along with a full design team, will share the design progress and vision for the park, and there will be a facilitated Q&A session where attendees can contribute their thoughts and inquiries.
For more information and to RSVP, visit https://sojournertruth.eventbrite.com.
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The 2024 construction season is starting to ramp up! Each week, we will give a round-up of City projects to expect in the coming week.
For the week of March 18, 2024:
Clinton Avenue Transportation Improvements Project: Tree removals on Clinton Avenue between Albany Avenue and John Street are planned for March 18 and 19. Flagger operation will be in place; one-way operation and sidewalk closures with pedestrian detours will be in place during work. Drivers and pedestrians are encouraged to seek alternate routes. Delays are expected. On-street parking on Clinton Avenue will be restricted. Alternate routes utilizing I-587 to bypass the work area are suggested. Road closure is not planned but delays are likely.
As a part of the Clinton Avenue Transportation Improvements Project, eight new trees will be planted.
ADA Curb Ramps: the installation of 32 curb ramps from the 2023 project will resume in April. Mobilization is expected for April 1, with construction beginning on April 8 with ramp installation on Main Street. In addition to the completion of the 2023 ADA ramps project, there will be 50+ additional ramps installed with the 2024 ramps project.
Central Hudson will start gas line replacement construction in April.
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City of Kingston Job & Board Opportunities | |
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The Kingston 311 app, website, and phone system allow residents to quickly and easily report issues and submit service requests.
The Kingston 311 app, available for Android & iPhones, is a fast and simple way to connect to City officials in non-emergency situations. Photos can be attached to illustrate service orders.
This system is a valuable resource to submit municipal service requests. Examples include:
- Streetlight replacement
- City signage, including overgrowth blocking traffic signs
- Snow removal, reporting parking violations, and other snow-related issues
- Parks & playground repairs
- Report graffiti or vandalism
- Trail issues
Dial 311 from any phone within City limits to reach us, use the app or visit www.kingston-ny.gov/311/
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Sent on behalf of:
Mayor Steven T. Noble
845.334.3902
mayor@kingston-ny.gov
The purpose of this newsletter is to share important information, project updates, pictures and news from the City of Kingston. For more detailed information, visit:
www.kingston-ny.gov
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