FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 3, 2023

Mayor Noble Unveils Final Design for Broadway/Prince Greenspace Landscape Project

Public Meeting to be Held on April 18, 2023

KINGSTON, NY – Mayor Steven T. Noble and the Department of Health and Wellness are pleased to announce the final landscape designs for the two greenspaces at Broadway and Prince are now available, and a public meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 18 at 6:00pm.

Phase 1 designs are now available at Engage Kingston. The project team will be presenting the final design at the public meeting. The public comment period will be open until May 2, 2023. Comments can be submitted online: https://forms.gle/ocyNB1qnCgDMbqC89 or can be emailed to [email protected].

“I can’t wait for the public to see these exciting designs for the newly-created greenspace at the Broadway and Prince Street intersection, which was created when we tore down an abandoned fast food building and realigned a dangerous intersection,” said Mayor Noble. “I thank KaN for their thoughtful work on this project, extensive public engagement, and I believe they have created concepts that the public will love, and will make our community want to spend time in this unique public space.”

KaN Landscape Design was contracted to develop landscape design plans in August 2022. KaN Landscape a women-owned, WBE-certified, Kingston-based landscape design firm that has worked on many local projects including the Y Park, the YMCA playground, and the African Burial Ground. KaN partnered with the YMCA Youth Farm Project, Place Corps, and DRAW for community engagement outreach to inform the final design.

KaN Landscape Design said, “As Kingston based professionals, we are mindful of how lucky we are to partner with the Kingston community, and for the many occasions to envision and create spaces together. We never cease to be amazed by the kindness, empathy, and selfless productive energy the many local groups and individuals keep on demonstrating. This project has been an opportunity to both tighten and expand our alliances, and to regularly listen to and engage with one another. All these positive interactions have formed the foundation of the design we will be presenting to the community.”

“After eight long months of hard work, including extensive community outreach, we are excited to share the draft design that Kan Landscape Design has created for the greenspaces at Broadway and Prince with the community. We believe that they have developed a strong design driven by community needs, desires, and values, artfully laid out in an aesthetically attractive way. But the work isn’t done yet, and we hope that the community once again comes out to review the design and share their input so that we can create something meaningful, thoughtful, and beautiful for Kingston,” said Kristin Kessler, Project Manager.

The Midtown Business Alliance Board of Directors said, “The Midtown Business Alliance had the opportunity to review the findings of KaN’s community outreach and design of the Broadway/Prince Greenspace Landscape Project and was pleased with the results; specifically with it having gained a representative sample of the population with the majority of respondents living or working in Midtown. Midtown knows what’s best for its community and having a say in how their public spaces are designed and planned is critical to heal wounds from the past and move forward in collaboration with the city to revitalize and restore the heart of Kingston.”

The old Kingston Post Office was built at the intersection of Broadway and Prince Street in 1908. By 1969, postal operations had grown larger than the building’s capacity, and the building was sold, then torn down to make room for a fast food restaurant. In 2022, the Broadway Grand Street Intersection Improvements project realigned and improved the safety at a formerly dangerous intersection. To accommodate the realignment, the abandoned fast food restaurant building was demolished, leaving community greenspace.

Broadway Prince Landscape Final Design Presentation

Tuesday, April 18, 2023

6:00-7:30pm

City Hall in Council Chambers

The in-person meeting will include Spanish interpretation

The event will livestream on the City of Kingston’s YouTube channel

Refreshments and will be offered

Childcare (ages 5-14) will be available from 5:30-8:00pm at the Everette Hodge Center (21 Franklin St.)

This project is funded by the Creating Healthy Schools and Communities (CHSC) Grant. The City of Kingston received this 5-year grant from the New York State Department of Health starting in 2021 to implement projects that support policy, system, and environmental changes to help create a healthier Kingston for all.

The City of Kingston has secured funding for Phase 1 of the design, which is expected to begin in fall 2023. More information at https://engagekingston.com/broadway-prince-landscape-plan.

The Broadway Grand Intersection Realignment Project was yet another step in Mayor Noble’s ongoing efforts to create a safe, walkable and bikeable City. The City recently released a draft of the Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan, a strategy document that builds upon completed projects that include safety features such as improved intersections, signals and sidewalks. Completed projects include the Broadway Streetscape Project, the Franklin Street Complete Streets Project,  and the Pedestrian Safety Action Plan Intersection Project, among many others. Current or upcoming road safety projects include the Henry Street Safe Routes to School Project, ADA curb ramp replacements across the City, Safe and Accessible Flatbush & Foxhall, the Uptown Transportation Improvements Projects, and many more to come. Under Mayor Noble’s administration, the Kingston Point Rail Trail Phase 1 (Phase 2 is under design) and the Midtown Linear Park have been created, both of which provide off-street paths and connections for walking and biking. The Kingston Greenline is a network of urban trails, complete streets, improved sidewalks, bike lanes, and linear parks in Kingston.