FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 8, 2025

Mayor Noble Delivers 2025 State of the City Address,

Looking Back, Leaning Forward

KINGSTON, NY – Mayor Steven T. Noble delivered his 2025 State of the City address, Looking Back, Leaning Forward on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, detailing the City of Kingston’s 2024 accomplishments and announcing new initiatives launching or moving forward in 2025.

Looking back at the many achievements of 2024, Mayor Noble highlighted the following:

• Kingston Fire Department launched emergency response service to provide better and more timely medical care. The team responded to 4,500 calls for medical emergencies with over a 99% response rate.

• Major infrastructure projects completed: Wurts Street Bridge, Henry Street Safe Routes to School project, Clinton Avenue Intersection Improvements project, Andy Murphy Neighborhood Center asbestos abatement and lead remediation, Post Office Park, and the massive, multi-million-dollar Dietz Stadium project.

• The City’s first Urban Forester hired to oversee the City’s long-term tree protection and maintenance.

• City Engineering Department installed 58 new ADA curb ramps across the City. Public Works paved 20 streets.

• ARPA projects included grants to businesses that were impacted by infrastructure projects, the Accessory Dwelling Unit Design Competition, the purchase of a new parking lot at the Kingston Point Rail Trail, play equipment and bleachers for the Andy Murphy Neighborhood Center, and sewer repairs.

• In partnership with Scenic Hudson, Mayor Noble proposed the City’s first Open Space acquisition, a 68-acre plot of land, known as the Rondout Uplands, to be preserved as parkland for generations to come.

• A city-wide 25 mph speed limit instituted 

• Community Preservation Fund passed to protect open spaces and natural resources with a reliable, ongoing funding source.

• Major housing initiatives including: proposed mixed-use development Downtown on vacant property, Kingston Business Park housing feasibility study, and the Barrel Factory’s mixed-use development with 12 affordable units and 100 more units being built.

Mayor Noble said, “We have made many great strides in 2024, and the State of our City is strong. We have been resilient through a global pandemic, an unprecedented housing shortage, climate-related rising tides, steep inflation, and civil unrest. Together, as a community, we have faced these challenges with strong action, smart planning, and a powerful sense of purpose.”

As a part of his State of the City address, Mayor Noble announce several initiatives launching in 2025:

• Phase 1 of city-wide wayfinding plan will include installation of over 40 gateway and directional signs.
• Kingston Point Beach improvements and ADA-upgrades and shade structure at Andretta Pool.
• Kingston Parks and Recreation new online registration platform.
• Community skate park to move forward with $650,000 State grant.
• Proposed Tree Preservation Ordinance and a new online tree map.
• Listening Tour to all nine wards.
• Request for proposals to redevelop the brownfield at 25 Field Court.
• Launch a public mixed-income housing model, which will generate new financing methods to help create new housing.
• Contract a consultant to create a comprehensive Parking Management Plan.
• Create a Sidewalk Improvement Plan to document current conditions and provide recommendations on how to manage and pay for long term sidewalk improvements.
• Allocation of $50,000 in the 2025 Budget for traffic-calming resources, including signage, rapid flashing beacons, speed tables, crosswalks, speed radar devices, and more.
• Climate Action Plan initiatives: transition to Renewable Diesel, purchase of 12 new EV vehicles for the Police Department, and 100% of the City's electric usage will be offset by a nearby solar farm.
• The Kingston Police Department will devote additional resources to traffic enforcement.
• New software platform for transparency in Planning process.

As part of Looking Back, Leaning Forward, Mayor Noble revisited the goals set forth in the 2025 Comprehensive Plan, which was adopted in 2016, and announced that the City of Kingston will embark on the creation of a new Comprehensive Plan.

“Now that we have reached – or are well on our way to reaching– so many of the goals set forth in 2025 Comprehensive Plan, I invite you all to join us in creating a new Comprehensive Plan for the next 10 years. With a new Federal administration coming into office, now is the time to focus on our community here. With the Comp Plan, we can think big and envision the best future we want to see for Kingston.”

Mayor Noble concluded his speech with a call to action:

“During my tenure and throughout our long history, Kingston has steadily charted our own course, and we will continue to move toward our goals of equity, inclusion, preservation, and progress…I believe, now more than ever, cities are leading the way. The best way we can protect our nation’s democracy is to serve in our own community,” said Mayor Noble. “I hope you’ll join me in reinforcing the fabric of our City, redoubling our efforts, respecting our neighbors, and reaching for the future with a focus on our values and hope in our hearts.”

Mayor Noble’s full speech and the recording of his presentation can be found at https://kingston-ny.gov/stateofthecity.