FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 15, 2020
City of Kingston Cancels Summer Recreation Programs
KINGSTON, NY – Mayor Steve Noble and City of Kingston Recreation Director, Lynsey Timbrouck, announce today that all summer recreation programs have been cancelled as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Per New York State restrictions and CDC recommendations, the City of Kingston will cancel all 2020 summer recreation programming, including the Summer Parks and Junior Naturalist programs and adult and youth sports. As a result, the Parks and Recreation Department will not be hiring seasonal programming employees. As previously announced, three full-time and four part-time staff in the department will be temporarily laid off from May 18 through July 31.
Per NYS Governor Cuomo’s New York Forward plan, recreation activities will be authorized in Phase 4. The City of Kingston and Ulster County are in the Mid-Hudson region, which has not yet entered into Phase 1 of re-opening.
“While Kingston and Ulster County have made significant progress, our region has not yet fully met the criteria to begin re-opening efforts,” said Mayor Noble. “With new developments arising in our collective fight against COVID-19 each day, we have unfortunately been forced to make the difficult decision to suspend all of our recreation programs. I want to thank our staff who worked tirelessly to prepare for what would have been another wonderful summer of quality youth and adult programming. I know we are all disappointed, but this is the right decision. I look forward to the day when we can reopen these quality programs for our community. Until then, I appreciate everyone’s diligent efforts to maintain social distancing and protect our neighbors. I am confident that when we can safely come together, our parks programs will once again be filled with joy and laughter.”
About Refunds for Registered Programs
For those who have registered and paid for any of the canceled programs, refunds will be issued by check via mail. Please expect 10 business days for your refund to be processed.
About Child Care Options
Child Care Connections is a child care resource and referral program of Family of Woodstock, Inc., serving Columbia, Greene and Ulster Counties. Staff provide families with referrals to legal child care programs as well as information on financial support. Child care scholarships for essential workers are currently available. Visit www.familyofwoodstockinc.org/ccc/ or call 845-331-7080 to learn more about available child care.