November 19, 2021 - In this issue:
Mayor's Message
American Rescue Plan Act Survey Extended - Please Weigh In!
Kingston Point Park Improvements Project
Block Park Paving and Upgrades
Upgrades/Improvements at Six Intersections
New Snow Emergency Procedures
Mayor Noble's Tuesday Radio Show
A Message From Mayor Steve Noble:

Dear Friends,

Covid numbers are slowly rising in Ulster County and in Kingston, with 601 and 84 confirmed cases respectively, as of today. County Executive Pat Ryan's Covid response team is encouraging all adults who received the vaccine more than six months ago to get a booster ahead of the holidays. The County's vaccine resource center has appointments and lots more information.

We have extended the deadline for applying for the Director of Housing Initiatives position. Let us know if you're a good fit here.

-Steve
ARPA Public Survey Deadline Extended

The deadline for the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) public survey has been extended until December 3, 2021.
 
The City will receive approx. $17 million in ARPA funding over two years. A comprehensive Economic Recovery Plan to best utilize these funds is now in development, and the City is seeking your input.

In order to combat and overcome the severe effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the survey seeks to understand the needs, challenges, and local issues related to the pandemic. Community feedback will assist us in prioritizing the funding resources. 
 
“We want to make sure that every community member has the opportunity to provide feedback for the how the City of Kingston will use our federal aid,” said Mayor Noble. “To prevent any barriers, we have made the registration process at Engage Kingston even easier, and we have made the surveys available in print and in Spanish. We encourage everyone to get involved in this process, and make your voice heard.”
 
The survey is available online at Engage Kingston in both English and Spanish and will remain open until Friday, December 3.

For more info on the ARPA process, guidelines for using the federal aid, and more, visit: https://engagekingston.com/american-rescue-plan-act-arpa. 
Kingston Point Park Improvements Complete
The Kingston Point Park Infrastructure Improvements Project Phase 1, which was funded through a grant from the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, included the creation of a youth soccer field and a new, elevated parking lot.

In addition to addressing the need for amenities lacking at the site, the project is a showcase of the City’s commitment to access, sustainability and resilient design. The parking lot and soccer field designs incorporated elevating the land to bring the amenities out of the floodplain to address sea level rise and flooding. The design went further to incorporate green infrastructure elements to manage stormwater and to maximize the green space in the area.

The soccer field will be open in the spring, once the grass is established and the lines and goals are installed. In the spring, a new accessible playground will be constructed adjacent to the beach on the north side of Delaware, east of the entrance to the beach. The playground was funded separately through the City’s Recreation Fee Reserve.
 
Kingston Point Park Infrastructure Improvements Project Phase 2 will include improvements south of Delaware Avenue, including the formal creation of a wetland at the west end of the existing parking lot, and improvements, including regrading and paving the east end of the parking lot. The City is currently seeking funding for Phase 2 design and construction.
Block Park Parking Lot Paving & Improvements
Along with Abeel Street from Hudson to Ravine, the Block Park parking lot paving has been completed with grading to improve drainage. Other improvements include a streamlined entrance/exit with new signage, guiderails, and ADA bathroom upgrades.
 
“We are thrilled to have this project completed, with a graded parking lot for better drainage, much-needed repairs to the lot and entrance, and enhanced public access to the pavilion,” said Mayor Noble. “My thanks to the Parks and Recreation Department for bringing this project to fruition and the Department of Public Works for getting this project completed in this paving season.”
 
Block Park paving and upgrades were fully funded through the Community Development Block Grant. 
Pedestrian Safety Action Plan Intersection Improvements
The Pedestrian Safety Action Plan project to improve six intersections is now completed at the following crosswalks:

Joy's Lane at Municipal Stadium Road
Broadway at McEntee
Broadway at Delaware Avenue/Yosman Towers
Broadway at Andrew Street
North Front at Crown Street
Albany Avenue at Maiden Lane

Previously, these intersections had high pedestrian traffic and were found to be at greater than average risk for crashes. This project installed ADA compliant curb ramps, curb extensions, high visibility crosswalks, high visibility signage, rectangular rapid-flashing beacons, and pedestrian signal countdown timers. Engineering Consultants from Creighton Manning LLP created final design with construction by A. Colarusso & Son. Construction began in July 2021 and was delayed slightly due to supply chain issues.

“We continue to make investments to improve the walkability of our neighborhoods, which means upgrading our sidewalks, roads, and intersections to increase pedestrian safety. These improvements will reduce the potential for pedestrian crashes and help ensure that anyone crossing these busy roads can do so safely,” said Mayor Noble.

The total project cost was $530,000, and was fully funded by a grant from the New York State Department of Transportation's Pedestrian Safety Action Plan Program with no local match.

New Snow Emergency Procedures
Typical Snow Emergency procedure in the City of Kingston is alternate side parking rules. However, to allow for more efficient clearing of major roadways, there will now be no street parking along Snow Emergency Routes.

Alternate side parking will remain in effect for the rest of the City, but there will be no parking allowed on Snow Emergency Routes for the duration of a Snow Emergency event, effective immediately.
 
Signs to this effect will be installed on the Snow Emergency Routes, which include the following streets:
 
Abeel Street Garden Street
Albany Avenue Garraghan Drive
Andrew Street Greenkill Avenue
Boulevard Hasbrouck Avenue
Broadway Hurley Avenue
Clifton Avenue Linderman Avenue
Cornell Street Lucas Avenue
Delaware Avenue Marys Avenue
Foxhall Avenue North Street
Flatbush Avenue O'Reilly Street
East Chester Street Pearl Street
East Strand Schwenk Drive
Elaine Drive Washington Avenue
Frog Alley Wilbur Avenue

A map and more information on the Snow Emergency Routes can be found at: www.kingston-ny.gov/snowemergency.
 
As a reminder for standard procedure, a Snow Emergency is typically announced if more than 3 inches of snow are forecasted and plowing is required. When a Snow Emergency is declared, the best place for vehicles is off-street, however, alternate side parking will be in effect for non-Snow Emergency Routes. During a Snow Emergency, parking is permitted on the odd side of the street on odd numbered calendar days and on the even side of the street on even numbered calendar days. The odd or even side of the street is determined by house numbers. At 7:00am the following day, vehicles must move to the opposite side of the street. Vehicles not in compliance will be ticketed and towed.
 
During a Snow Emergency, regular alternate side parking rules are suspended. On-street and off-street parking meters are suspended. Pre-existing parking restrictions which allow or prohibit parking on a particular side of the street are temporarily superseded by Snow Emergency alternate-side-of-the-street parking rules.
 
No parking is allowed within 50 feet of any street corner and vehicles must not block fire hydrants, driveways, entryways or exits for parking lots, or in any hazardous manner.
 
The City of Kingston will announce a Snow Emergency in the following ways:
  • Online at http://www.kingston-ny.gov and at the City of Kingston Facebook page.
  • By phone or text using the City’s notification system, Swift911. Sign up to receive calls or texts here.
  • By e-mail. Recipients of the Mayor’s newsletter will receive an e-mail notification. Sign up for the newsletter here.
  • Via media—all local media will be alerted.
 
For a snow-related service request or to report hazardous road conditions, call the Department of Public Works dispatch at 845-338-2114 or use Kingston 311. For towed vehicles, call the Kingston Police Department at 845-331-1671.
 
For those who are unable to move their vehicle off the road, the following municipal parking lots are free and open to the public during a Snow Emergency:
 
Uptown area
All 3 North Front Street lots
Forsyth Park lot adjacent to the tennis courts
Dietz Stadium lot
 
Midtown area
Sea Deli lot
Hodge Center lot
AME Zion Church on Franklin St. lot
Cornell St. lot
Prince St. lot
Lot next to Arace Electronics (357 Broadway)
Broadway Commons (615 Broadway)
 
Downtown area
Dock St. Lot
117-165 Abeel St.
Trolley Museum lot
Block Park
Kingston Point Beach
 
The City of Kingston will be sending a flyer with the new Snow Emergency procedure information to every household in the coming weeks. 
Mayor Noble's Tuesday Radio Show
Mayor Noble's weekly radio show airs on Tuesdays at 5:00pm on Radio Kingston and the City of Kingston Facebook page.
 
Click below to hear Mayor Noble talk with Christine Hein of People's Place about all their wonderful upcoming supportive programs.
Sent on behalf of:
Mayor Steven T. Noble
845.334.3902
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: