Mayor's Message

Uptown Paving Next Week

Forsyth Bathroom Improvements

Free Community Cooking Classes

MHET Home Upgrades Program

Mayor Noble's Tuesday Radio Show

Weekly Roadwork Update

City of Kingston Job Opportunities

Free Refridgerant Recycling Program in May

Mayor's Message:

Dear Friends -

In honor of Earth Day on Monday, we have several opportunities for getting involved. There's a Freecycle event tomorrow, and several dates in May when you can recycle appliances with refrigerants for free. We're looking forward to hosting the 10th Annual Earth Fair event on the Kingston Waterfront on Saturday, May 11, 2024. The full line-up of music is posted here. It's going to be a great day!

If you haven't already, now is a good time to sign up for the Kingston Organics program! We have 11 neighborhood food waste drop off locations and the program is free and voluntary! For more information and to register, visit www.engagekingston.com/Kingston-organics.

We also have a new Grant Funding Report, which provides an update of all our active grant awards and the projects they fund. We are currently managing a portfolio of $75M in grants. Check out all of our work at Engage Kingston.

-Steve

Paving Next Week

The first round of 2024 paving will be North Front Street from Fair Street to Washington Avenue and Main Street from Clinton Avenue to Wall Street.

Milling is expected to begin on Monday, April 22 and paving is expected to be completed by Friday, April 26, 2024, weather depending. During this time, there may be detours and changes in traffic patterns. 

During milling and paving operations, all vehicles must remain off the street. Never move or go around barricades.

The next round of paving will be announced in the coming weeks. Paving season is expected to continue through October 2024. 

Forsyth Bathroom Building Upgrades

Today, the bathroom/storage building at Kingston's Forsyth Park got a brand new roof, with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding.

See the 'before' photo above and the 'after' photo below. Thanks to the Parks & Recreation staff and Nuvista Design for this spring makeover!

Free Community Cooking Classes

The City of Kingston’s Live Well Kingston Eat Well focus team has launched a free healthy cooking workshop series, Kingston Cooks, which will be held Thursdays in the community kitchen at the Andy Murphy Neighborhood Center in Midtown.

MHET Launches Home Upgrade Grants

Mid-Hudson Energy Transition (MHET) proudly announces the launch of the Home Upgrade Grants (HUG) Program, aimed at assisting residents in making crucial improvements to their homes for enhanced health, safety, and utility cost savings.

MHET will collaborate with income-qualified Kingston homeowners to leverage federal, state, and local clean energy incentives, facilitating home improvement projects that directly lower utility costs. Initiatives such as air sealing, insulation, and remediation of mold, lead, and asbestos are among the strategies aimed at improving affordability and sustainability. The HUG program offers upgrades up to $20,000 at no cost to eligible homeowners to boost your home's energy efficiency and comfort.

Interest forms are due by April 27, 2024.

Reach out to homes@mid-hudson.energy or 845-372-1728 with questions. More information at https://www.mid-hudson.energy/home-upgrade-grants/.

To learn more about the Home Upgrade Grants program, MHET will host a webinar on Tuesday, April 23 at 7:00pm. Register to attend here.

Radio Kingston Freecycle Event Tomorrow

Join Radio Kingston on Saturday, April 20, from 10:00am to 2:00pm, at the parking lot at Elmendorf & Broadway for a community event, Discover Hidden Gems: Community Treasure.

As part of Earth Month celebrations, you are invited to explore the transformed forgotten items and uncover unique treasures waiting to be discovered. Hot dogs, hamburgers, salad, and snacks will be available, along with live music in the vibrant atmosphere. This event is not just about finding hidden gems but also about connecting with community.

Mayor Noble's Tuesday Radio Show

Mayor Noble's weekly radio show, "It's the Mayor" airs on Tuesdays at 5pm on Radio Kingston. This week, Mayor Noble spoke with Bill Reynolds, the Economic Recovery Plan Project Manager about all things American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

Click below to hear their conversation!

Dietz Stadium Construction Update

Construction continues at Dietz Stadium with the project at about 40% completion. The remaining contractors will mobilize in mid-May to start track, turf, scoreboard, and field lighting work.

Mass re-grading, which started in the northwest corner of the site, has progressed around the entire site. Rock removal from the site continues with total rock exportation to date at 2608cy (163 trucks). The new stormwater and sewer lines have been installed to the Joys Lane connection, installation of the new water main coming in from Hurley Avenue is expected to begin next week. The additional crews are focused on preparing the track and field areas.

The new ticket booth, visitor concessions and visitor side storage buildings have been erected. Grandstand exterior demolition and preparation of the concrete and brickwork is finished. The site lighting pole foundations are being installed. Power up of the site is expected in early August.

Substantial completion is expected by August 30, 2024.

Weekly Roadwork & Infrastructure Update

Dietz Stadium - next week, water connection work at Hurley Avenue will begin. On Monday, April 22 and Tuesday April 23, the one-way section of Hurley Ave from the municipal parking lot to Washington Ave will be closed to traffic from 7:00am – 4:00pm.

The municipal parking lot will be closed with no access for the week of April 22. The access point from Joy’s Lane will be re-opened and protected with additional fencing to allow two-way traffic to parking behind Berkshire Reality, Black Eyed Suzie’s, Manpower, Sunshine Smiles, and TD Bank.

Post Office Park – excavation continues forming pathways, bench areas, and bicycle pads. Please be advised that crews will be pouring slabs on Monday morning at 8:00am. There may be traffic delays due to flagger operations.

Henry Street Safe Routes to School project –crews will be replacing a collapsed storm line near the Sterling Street Intersection, and continue to install curbs, ramps, and sidewalks at the Prospect Street intersection and at the Sterling Street and Cedar Street intersection.

Next week, crews will be milling and paving the remainder of Henry Street.

ADA Ramps Citywide – crews will continue excavating ramps on Pearl Street, and will next pour the curbs, ramps, and sidewalks along Pearl Street. It is anticipated that the ramps on Pearl Street will be completed in the next two weeks and will crews will begin final restoration.

Restoration work continues along Main Street.

Central Hudson – Construction will continue on St James Street between Fair St and Clinton Ave. Expect road closures and/or lane closures in areas of active construction. On Monday, St. James St. closed from Wall St. to Pine Street and Fair St. from Maiden Ln. to Franklin St. will be closed. 

Fishing Dock has been installed in the Rondout Creek for the season.

Weekly roadwork updates will be posted on the City website here.

New curb ramps at Main and Emerson Street

City of Kingston Job & Board Opportunities

The City of Kingston is hiring! There are several new job openings including Traffic Electrician.

The following positions are currently open: 



Traffic Electrician

Engineering Technician

Environmental Specialist I

Junior Planning Aide

Motor Equipment Mechanic 

Urban Forester

Wastewater Treatment Plant Mechanic II

Upcoming Civil Service Exams include:



Business Manager on June 1, 2024

More information available at https://kingston-ny.gov/employment.

The City of Kingston has over 25 boards & commissions, and we're always looking for volunteers to serve the community. Find the application at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KingstonBoards.

Opportunities for Free Refrigerants Recycling

Between May 1-18, there will be multiple opportunities to drop off your old refrigerant-containing appliances free of charge, to be properly disposed of and recycled.

Sustainable Hudson Valley will be collecting appliances that use refrigerants free of charge and covering all expenses for them to be properly recycled. This includes refrigerators, window air conditioners, dehumidifiers, water coolers, freezers and mini fridges, as well as canisters of refrigerants.

The primary drop off spot is at New Paltz ReUse and Recycling Center, or drop off at the Kingston Earth Fair on May 11 at TR Gallo Park (rain location: Hutton Brickyards).

At the end of the recycling drive, the refrigerant chemicals will be safely extracted and recycled by local company Hudson Technologies. The metal will be sold as scrap by the New Paltz ReUse and Recycling Center, who will keep the profits from the sale.

Refrigerants chemicals are engineered and industrially produced to be able to transfer heat when trapped in a pressurized system. When these chemicals are released into the atmosphere, they become greenhouse gasses that are thousands of times more powerful than carbon dioxide. A single air conditioner can hold up to 2 pounds of R410A, which when released into the atmosphere, over the next 20 years will act like almost 10,000 pounds of carbon dioxide – similar to driving an average car for a full year. 

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/