FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 9, 2024

Mayor Noble Proposes Acquisition of ‘Kingston Wilderness’ Property for Preservation

KINGSTON, NY – Mayor Steven T. Noble announced at a press conference today that he will present a plan at the Common Council’s Finance & Audit Committee meeting on Wednesday night to purchase a 70-acre tract of land for preservation. The acquisition would be the City’s first Open Space purchase.

The property, in an area known as Rondout Uplands, was identified in the City’s Open Space Plan as an area of natural value and was recommended for preservation.

Mayor Noble said, “To continue to expand on our strategy for responsible stewardship of important natural resources, to protect our beautiful landscape, to maintain clean drinking water, protect natural habitats, provide more recreational opportunities, and position the City to mitigate impacts from future climate change trends, I am proposing that the City of Kingston purchase the largest open space tract of land in the Rondout Uplands. The forested land, which is known as Kingston Wilderness and comprises seven parcels with combined area of 70 acres, would become permanent parkland for future generations of Kingstonians.”

The City of Kingston already owns an adjacent 4.5-acre parcel with an abandoned single-family home and will be conducting a feasibility study for returning affordable housing to that site.

Two separate appraisals have been conducted, which support a purchase price of $840,000. Scenic Hudson is working to contribute a portion of the total cost.

“Scenic Hudson applauds Mayor Noble and the City of Kingston for reaching an agreement to purchase the Kingston Wilderness property,” said Seth McKee, Executive Director of The Scenic Hudson Land Trust. “It is remarkable to have this kind of forested open space only 1.5 miles from Midtown Kingston. Making a forest like this accessible to city residents can help ease the 'nature gap' in cities — the benefits of open space are not equally shared by city residents of color and lower incomes.”

If the City of Kingston voters approve the Community Preservation Fund Real Estate Transfer tax on the ballot in November, this bond and future improvements to the site could be paid for by using the City’s Community Preservation Fund.

The City has worked closely with the Kingston Land Trust (KLT) to begin to conserve lands in the Open Space priority area, including 20 acres of land at the Red Fox Ravine on Wilbur Ave and 38 acres of land on Mason Hill. The City also prioritized surplus property conservation in 2023 to protect 12 acres of land along the Twaalfskill Creek and Wilbur Avenue.

The City of Kingston adopted the Open Space Plan on November 10, 2020, with the ambitious goals to preserve hundreds of acres of land, forge new trails, and improve public access to our natural resources.