FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 15, 2019

The City of Kingston Applies for Nearly $10M in Grants

KINGSTON, NY – Mayor Noble is pleased to announce that the Office of Grants Management has completed $9,761,200 in grants applications from various state agencies through the 2019 NYS Consolidated Funding Application (CFA). The City of Kingston applied for ten grants for seven separate projects throughout the City. The application deadline was July 27, and awards will be announced at a ceremony in Albany in December 2019. 

“I would like to thank the Grants Management team for their tireless efforts and for everything that goes into the CFA grant process,” said Mayor Noble. “The grants the City applied for would help make major improvements across many key aspects of our community –transportation, economic development, recreation and parks, and vital infrastructure and would take a significant burden off the taxpayers.” 

The nearly $10 million in applications were submitted for crucial infrastructure, park improvements, stadium parking and amenities, and brownfield analysis. The City requested funding for the following projects: 

Rondout Riverport Shoreline Stabilization Phase 1 (Application Amount: $2,000,000)

Funding Source: NYS Department of State Local Waterfront Revitalization Program

Construct shoreline stabilization improvements along the Rondout Creek starting from beneath the NYS Route 9W bridge, heading east towards the Hudson River, and ending at the old ferry slip on the west side of the Old Savannah building. The improvements will include steel bulkhead in front of the Hudson River Maritime Museum and rip rap along with a kayak launch in the area of the old ferry slip. Total Project Cost: $2,352,941 

Hasbrouck CSO Sewer Separation Phase 2 Project (Application Amount: $1,611,200)

Funding Source: NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Water Quality Improvement Program

This funding will cover Phase 2 of the sewer separation project in the Hasbrouck CSO sewershed, which drains to our most active Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO). The sewer separation is estimated to remove 54 million gallons of stormwater annually from the Hasbrouck CSO sewer system and will reduce overflows to the Rondout Creek, improve Rondout Creek water quality, improve our “capture ratio” to the Waste Water Treatment Plant, and reduce water treatment costs. Total Project Cost: $2,289,000

Academy Green Park Improvements (Application Amount: $600,000)

Funding Source: NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation (OPRHP) – Heritage Area Program

This grant will improve access to Academy Green Park to better connect the community to the park and increase use of the space. Improvements may include redesigning the sidewalks surrounding the park and walkways through it, electrical and water upgrades, additional landscape lighting and plantings, a low-maintenance horticulture plan, and new seating. Total Project Cost: $800,000

Dietz Stadium Green Infrastructure Site Improvements (Total Applications Amount: $4,000,000)

Funding Sources: NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation Green Innovation Grant Program

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Climate Smart Communities Program

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Water Quality Improvement Program

Supplementing the DRI funds for capital improvements, this funding will enable the City to fully rehabilitate and re-pave the parking lot around Dietz Stadium using green practices, which can include bioretention features such as rain gardens, bioswales, or recharge gardens, permeable pavement, and stormwater street trees.  The site plan will also include efficient bus and traffic circulation plans, electric car charging stations, bicycle parking, and bike fix-it stations to encourage sustainable transportation to and from the athletic complex. Total Project Cost: $5,250,000

Kingston Point Rail Trail Phase 2 (Applications Amounts: $600,000 + $250,000)

Funding Sources: NYS OPRHP Parks Program and NYS OPRHP Recreational Trails Program

These grants will fund the construction of Kingston Point Rail Trail Phase 2, which includes paving a 10-12 foot wide ADA-accessible path for pedestrians and bicyclists that will traverse over an old bridge, pass behind the Trolley Museum and end at a small trailhead on East Strand St.  The project entails regrading for ADA access, installation of retaining walls and adjustment of tracks to accommodate the trail and Trolley Museum trains in the same vicinity, and erection of fences.  The design will include interpretation of historical places and artifacts and a small building to protect and display an exhibit of 9/11 artifacts. Total Project Cost: $912,500

Midtown Brownfield Opportunity Area Designation (Application Amount: $300,000)

Funding Source: NYS Department of State Brownfield Opportunity Area Program

This grant will fund the development of a BOA Nomination for a section of Midtown, which is an area affected by a concentration of known or suspected brownfields. A full Nomination provides an in-depth and thorough description and analysis of existing conditions, opportunities, and re-use potential for properties located in the proposed BOA area; there will be an emphasis on the identification and reuse potential of strategic brownfield sites that may be catalysts for revitalization. An integral part of a Nomination is a description of key findings and recommendations to promote area-wide revitalization and redevelopment, which will include specific projects, initiatives, regulations and other action. Nominations may also include detailed analyses and recommendations to advance redevelopment of strategic sites, such as conceptual site design, cost estimation, artist renderings, development of pro formas and marketing strategies. Total Project Cost: $333,333

Kingston/Ulster County Transit System Integration (Application Amount: $400,000)

Funding Source: NYS Department of State Local Government Efficiency Program

Ulster County and the City of Kingston have fully integrated Citibus into the UCAT transit system operated by the County. As a result of this integration, the City is scheduled to pay the County $225,000 per year for five years to help cover costs of the integration effort.  This grant will partially fund costs of this integration effort to reduce the costs to taxpayers. Total Project Cost: $444,444.    

“Working closely with other departments, we are continuing our efforts to improve the infrastructure of the City and reduce the costs of improvements for taxpayers,” said Kristen Wilson, Director of the Office of Grants Management. “This diverse portfolio of projects has the potential to increase quality of life in all areas of the City.”