“Play is the brain’s favorite way of learning”
~ poet and naturalist Diane Ackerman

I am a member of the Play Well Focus Group. It is a group of volunteers and City of Kingston staff who think about play and access to public spaces. Imagine that! This message is to announce that the Play Well Focus Group is conducting a parks assessment survey.

In preparation for this project, I volunteered to gauge the City of Kingston’s Parks and Recreation Department’s likely reception to an assessment of the parks. I did it by watching three past meetings of Kingston’s Parks and Recreation Commission on YouTube and by reading sections of the 2013 City of Kingston Parks and Recreation Master Plan.

I already knew that Kingston has 14 parks, a pool, a nature center, basketball courts, walking and biking trails, a beach, and a stadium. But I learned, almost as importantly, that we have a Parks and Recreation Department and Recreation Commission. Thankfully, they were receptive when we presented our plan to the Commission, and then we started the assessment at Block Park, followed by Cornell and Hutton.

We’re conducting our survey on paper in groups of twos and threes. It has questions under eight categories: accessibility, amenities, habitat, water, plants, trails, nature play, and culture. There’s also a place on the survey for improvement suggestions. Our goal is to identify what can be improved and then decide on at least one project to advance. In addition, our assessment could be used for the Parks and Recreation Department to make improvements when they have the capacity and it may support a future update to the Parks Master Plan.

Our Parks Assessments has led to interesting conversations. They include lofty goals and wish lists, which are often correctly tempered by saner minds in our group who point to safety and budget considerations. For example, when we were assessing Hutton Park, we discussed its boulders and whether they are an opportunity for play. “Yes,” I said emphatically! “No,” said someone else concerned with liability. This shows how differently people can interpret how spaces can be used and how complicated it can be to create rules in public spaces.

We have conversations about trees, about the definition of “Natural Play,” about surfaces that would perhaps be better served by native plants and flowers rather than grass. We have conversations about playing with water and about play equipment made from natural resources as opposed to plastic.

We’d like you to join us. We’d like your thoughts on play. Imagine that!

If you are interested, visit our events page to find out when the next Play Well meeting will be or email our coordinator, Emily at eflynn@kingston-ny.gov.

Arlene Puentes, Kingston, NY

Breathing New Life into a Historic Corner

Post Office Park is taking shape on a site once home to the former Kingston Post Office, and while the building itself is gone, its legacy will live on. The park’s design incorporates concrete elements that reference the architecture and significance of the original post office. Future designs could include a welcoming arch and benches that take inspiration directly from the building’s facade, recreating the Post Office steps and arches. The community also asked for a fountain on the Millard Building side. Recognizing the many cultures and ancestries that have enriched Kingston’s history, the park design intends to honor those who came before us and their descendants.

Designed with Purpose and People in Mind

From the ground up, Post Office Park is being built to invite connection, relaxation, and exploration. The park featured new sidewalks and meandering paths that welcome pedestrians and cyclists alike, encouraging movement and accessibility for all.

The landscape brings nature into the urban setting with the planting of carefully selected native trees, shrubs, and perennials. A pine tree, circled by bluestone, represents the Tree of Peace, a high significance for the Native Americans. The Broadway corridor has been a path for traveling since before Europeans set foot on the soil.

An interpretive sign briefly tells the story of the former Kingston Post Office and its importance to the local community.

Game tables have been installed for chess, checkers, and other community favorites, promoting informal socializing and multigenerational engagement.

Benches throughout the park will offer comfortable spots to pause, meet friends, and enjoy a coffee or hot dog.

For those arriving on two wheels, bicycle racks will make the park a convenient and safe stop along the Greenline system of trails and complete streets.

A Park for Everyone

Post Office Park is more than a beautification project—it’s a community investment. By integrating elements that reflect the area’s history and meet the needs of today’s residents, Kingston is creating a welcoming space that fosters civic pride, encourages outdoor activity, and enhances the city’s walkability.

As construction continues, residents and visitors alike can look forward to enjoying this thoughtfully crafted green space. Whether you’re playing a game, learning a bit of local history, or simply soaking in the scenery, Post Office Park promises to be a new favorite destination in Kingston.

Investing in Health and Community Through Strategic Funding

The development of Post Office Park has been made possible through a combination of strategic planning and public investment. The initial vision and planning for the park were supported by funding from the New York State Department of Health’s Creating Healthy Schools and Communities (CHSC) program, which aims to foster healthier, more active communities through improved access to physical activity and nutritious food. The construction phase was funded through a blend of Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) resources, reflecting a strong commitment to community revitalization and equitable access to public spaces.

Stay tuned for updates and opening announcements as this exciting project nears completion!

The Boy & Girls Club of Ulster County is located at 139 Greenkill Avenue, Kingston. For more information call (845) 338-8666.

Beginning June 29, the Andretta Pool and splash pad will be open to the public Wednesdays through Sundays. Learn more about the City of Kingston Parks and Recreation beaches, programs, and the 2024 Andretta Pool schedule, at https://www.kingston-ny.gov/swimming. Information about swim lessons or general questions about water safety can be sent to aquatics@kingston-ny.gov

Construction at Dietz Stadium continues, but a portion of the parking lot will be open for Andretta Pool access. More on the larger Dietz Stadium project can be found at https://engagekingston.com/dietz-stadium-improvements.

Congratulations to our first City of Kingston Park Passport program prize winners! They’ve won a 3-month family membership to the YMCA of Kingston & Ulster County.  “We are so grateful for this prize and very excited to take advantage of all the programs they offer, especially the pool,” Devlin family.

Caption left: City of Kingston Play Well Focus Team presents the Devlin family with their Park Passport prize.

You can be the next prize winner! There’s still time to join, get started here City of Kingston Park Passport. If you’re already participating in the Park Passport program, your name will remain in the pool of entries for future drawings. For each of the 7 participating parks you visit, scan, and register with your digital “stamp” gets you an additional entry in future monthly drawings. Winners are selected at random the last Friday of the month until all prizes are gone. 

The 7 participating parks with free public access Wi-Fi are Academy Green, Forsyth Nature Center, Hasbrouck Park, Kingston Point Beach, Rotary Park, Loughran Park and TR Gallo Park. We encourage you to visit all of Kingston’s beautiful parks! Find them here: https://www.kingston-ny.gov/parks

Caption below: On September 29th, YMCA Aquatics Director Naisha Scott, randomly selects the winner.

Play Well Kingston’s mission; to encourage usage of local parks, open spaces and promote physical activity for a healthy and active community, is aligned with the Day of Play theme. The Day of Play celebration, inspired by the Nickelodeon cable channel in 2004, was designed to encourage families to turn off their televisions and engage in play activities outdoors. Since then, the Day of Play is celebrated  both nationally and worldwide, with events held at various times throughout the year reminding children and families to spend time away from screen devices and spend time outdoors to engage in play and have fun. 

The Day of Play brings awareness about the importance of physical activity which is proven to offer substantial health benefits at all stages of life. According to the U.S. Department of U.S. Health and Human Services, 1-hour a day of moderate to vigorous physical activity is recommended for children and adolescents ages 6 – 17. For adults, substantial health benefits can be gained by doing at least 2 hours and 30 minutes a week of vigorous aerobic physical activity.  

The YMCA has planned a day of family fun activities including a bike rodeo, basketball tournaments, dodgeball, sack races, and zumba. Come out to the park and join us!

Learn more:

The YMCA of Kingston & Ulster County – Creating a stronger, healthier and more connected community (ymcaulster.org)

Welcome to the City of Kingston, NY – Beaches & Parks (kingston-ny.gov)

The three routes are equivalent to 1 lap (a quarter mile), 2 laps (half a mile) and 4 laps (1 mile) around the Dietz Stadium track. Unfortunately, walking routes may consist of sidewalks and curbs that are not ADA accessible.

By: Tracy Snyder, Program Manager for Physical Activity in Early Care and Education, Family of Woodstock

As a Program Manager for Nutrition and Physical Activity in Early Care and Education (ECE) at Family of Woodstock, crossing the midline is something I always look for. A child will not be able to do the simplest of tasks if not given the opportunity to cross the midline on a daily basis. 

So let us talk more about what the midline is, and how to support children doing so in their development.

The Midline. What Is It Exactly?

The midline is an imaginary line drawn from the head to the feet that separates the left and right halves of the body. Crossing this midline means that a body part (i.e., hand or foot) is able to spontaneously move over to the other side of the body.

The brain is divided into two sides, called the left and right hemispheres. There is a mass of tissue between the two, called the corpus callosum.  It contains nerve fibers that allow the two hemispheres to communicate with each other in order to coordinate learning and movement. A lack of midline crossing may indicate that the left and right sides of the brain are not communicating well across the corpus callosum.

The Midline and Child Development

Typically, children begin crossing the midline when they start reaching for toys at age 4-6 months. This skill continues to develop throughout childhood and is usually mastered at around age 8 or 9.

Bilateral movements (when both limbs are used in unison to contract the muscles, which creates force, and subsequently moves a given load) and interaction with the environment (such as caretakers playing with the child; objects being available to grasp) are important factors in trunk rotation. If a child avoids trunk rotation and/or moves the trunk stiffly as a unit, this may affect the child’s ability to freely cross the midline.

Some children may struggle to easily cross the midline. When a child shows trepidation in reaching, stepping, or looking across their center, this is known as midline crossing inhibition. This delay can be seen when a child hesitates or is clumsy when doing gross motor activities which require the arm or leg to cross over. A child who is grappling with crossing the midline will also struggle to get dressed, write, or cut with scissors.

If children have difficulty crossing the midline you may notice that they:

• Have delays in crawling
• Switch hands when working on fine motor skills such as writing or cutting
• Rotate or turn their entire body to retrieve objects on the other side of them
• Skip or do jumping jacks in an uncoordinated manner

How Crossing the Midline is Important To Growth

Reading and writing requires you to be able to smoothly and without effort cross the midline, as does completing math worksheets and navigating the recess field.  Related to being unable to easily cross the midline, children who struggle with ADHD often do not have a dominant hand, something called mixed dominance. This can also cause problems with coordination, reading, math, and attention. Another sign for possible midline crossing challenges and ADHD, studies have also shown that children diagnosed with ADHD tend to prefer sports such as soccer, track and field, and football as crossing the midline is not required for these activities.

In addition, hand dominance and bilateral integration skills are also needed to cut and to dress oneself.  Cognition develops because both sides of the brain are engaged and must work together during learning tasks, (left to right visual scanning across pages in a book, moving a toy to a basket, and noticing details on a page in their classwork).  It also benefits social-emotional development so children build self esteem while participating in activities (sports, school activities, gym class games).  Frustration and anxiety are reduced at school when children are able to participate in these activities.

Parents who notice that their children are experiencing developmental delays and show signs of mixed dominance should be on the lookout for early symptoms of other challenges.  By correctly identifying these complications, parents can quickly get the resources they need to support their child’s development.

So how do you encourage an infant or toddler to cross the midline?

• Clap hands at midline
• Move a toy across the baby’s line of vision so they have to track the object.
• Tummy time is so important!  Place toys in front of baby to encourage reaching.
• Gently take baby’s arms and hug them across their chest.
• You can have toddlers lie on their back and reach for their opposite foot.
• Give them a toy in one hand and encourage them to grab it with the other.
• To work on midline crossing skills with preschool and older children, try throwing, catching, and kicking objects.
• Blow bubbles and pop them!  Dance!
• Yoga is an excellent way to get your kids crossing over.

Interested in Learning More?

Creating Healthy Schools and Communities (CHSC), is a program of the City of Kingston’s Department of Health and Wellness that supports policy, system, and environmental changes to make it easier for everyone in Kingston to make healthy choices. The goals of CHSC are to improve food and nutrition guidelines in food service venues, support the planning to increase safe and accessible physical activity, and improve policies and practices to support physical activity and improved nutrition in schools and early care and education centers.

If you are an Early Care and Education Center provider that would like to learn more about this fantastic program, contact: 

Tracy Snyder, Program Manager for Nutrition and Physical Activity in ECE

tsnyder@familyofwoodstockinc.org

(845) 331-7080 ext. 157

In 1928, President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed a National Child Health Day of observance on May 1. In 1960, it was changed to the first Monday in October. While it’s not an official holiday, many schools and hospitals take part in celebrating the day.

“The health of the child is the power of the nation”
Before the 20th century, children were often treated- medicinally, intellectually, and socially- as mini-adults, despite having vastly different needs. It wasn’t even until the mid-1800s that the first children’s hospital was founded. These early hospitals went as far as providing clothing and food to children in need, which significantly reduced the number of children suffering from chronic, preventable medical conditions. The official slogan for National Child Health Day is “the health of the child is the power of the nation,” reflecting that the investment into children’s wellbeing benefits the entire society.

Social Determinants of Health
Health is a complex issue, and being in a state of overall good health isn’t always up to an individual. Many things affect health that are beyond an individual’s control. The “social determinants of health” are the conditions in which we are born, live, work, learn, and play. There are obvious conditions that affect people’s health- like not being able to afford nutrient-dense foods, healthcare, and/or housing due to economic instability (living in poverty).

There are other, less obvious, conditions that affect one’s health and quality of life. Access to quality education and school environments play a huge role in the health of children, starting with early childhood education all the way to higher education. Those who do not finish high school are more likely to develop chronic health problems like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and depression.

Healthy People 2030
Supporting preschool-aged children to be developmentally ready for school and increasing the number of students who are proficient in math and reading are two of the goals of “Healthy People 2030,” a US Department of Health and Human Services framework aimed at improving the health and well-being of all people- read more about that here!

Simply educating and encouraging children to eat healthy and get enough physical activity won’t eliminate health disparities. Instead, it’s important to use strategies that reach entire communities and populations through long-term, sustainable, systems-wide changes. This means, instead of focusing on one-time events, like a health fair, it’s more effective for a school or organization to adopt a policy that changes behavior long term. This could look like a school adopting a policy that provides school breakfast after the bell in the classroom so that more children are able to fuel their bodies at the start of the day.

Other effective ways to encourage equitable health outcomes include changing the way a school system works or its physical environment. The farm-to-school movement connects school districts with locally grown produce and farmers by changing food purchasing practices and providing farming/gardening education in the classroom. This system change could lead to an environmental change of building school gardens. These changes have a lasting impact on the health and wellbeing of not only students, but also their families, teaching staff, and the broader community.

Ways to observe/celebrate

• There are SO many ways you can observe National Child Health Day! If you want to celebrate with big picture thinking, check and see if the important child in your life (child, grandchild, niece/nephew, etc.) has a school wellness committee or PTO that you can join. These committees can help spur systems-wide changes to benefit the health and wellbeing of all children.
• Of course, it isn’t up to you alone to change the system! If you want to celebrate by doing something with the children in your life, consider some of the following:
• Get outside! Go for a walk, play in the park, dig in the dirt, do some yard work (‘tis the season to be raking leaves- or shoveling mulch 😉).
• Cook together! Cooking with kids doesn’t have to be elaborate. Even having a child cut some green onions into a salad using safety scissors, or adding spices to a soup can be a great way to learn about food and cultural traditions.
• Turn off the TV! Have a screen-free evening and try a family board game night instead!
• Take this time to make healthcare appointments! Is your child up to date with their physical? Teeth cleaning? Vaccinations? Here’s your reminder to make sure!

Do you have other special things you like to do to honor your kid’s health? We’d love to hear more! And if a child you love goes to Kingston City School District, you can reach out to Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County’s school health coordinator to get more information about joining/starting a school health and wellness committee. Nw293@cornell.edu 845-340-3990 ext.347