A woman tallies pedestrians and cyclists as part of the annual counts.

The Health and Wellness Department of the City of Kingston measures how many people are walking and bicycling in two ways. An annual, in-person, paper count and two permanently installed infrared counters. We collect this data to determine trends, understand the needs of pedestrians and cyclists, and for grant applications. 

The annual counts are usually conducted in the third week of September. Pre-selected locations are counted for two hours on Wednesday and Thursday from 4-6 pm, and on Saturday from 12-2 pm. A volunteer tallies every time a person crosses the street or rides through the intersection. The count is based on the methodology developed by the National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project. 

The counts are conducted by volunteers from the Complete Streets Advisory Council (CSAC) and other groups, but additional volunteers are always needed! We provide training and count forms for volunteers. Email Emily to find out more or sign up to help! 

The infrared counters are located at locations on the Greenline network of trails. The counters use infrared light to detect movement past their sensors. These are recorded and downloaded regularly. No personal information or photos are taken. 

“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

The Purpose of The Live Well Kingston Commission is to encourage, promote, and facilitate policy, environmental, and systems changes that result in a healthy and active community. We do this through partnerships and collaboration. More specifically, we:

• We work through focus teams in partnership with community members. There are currently five focus teams which are: Age Well, Eat Well, Grow Well, Play Well, and Travel Well. 
• Educate the people of the City of Kingston (and ourselves) on healthy lifestyle choices,
• Advocate for increased access to healthy, nourishing foods; community gardens; parks, public spaces and nature; and safe active transportation systems, 
• Advocate for improvements to the City’s physical environment and for the expansion of opportunities for residents to lead healthier lives,
• Advise the Mayor and the Common Council and serve as a collaborative partner to elected officials, staff, boards, committees and other commissions on issues and topics related to healthy living,
• Coordinate and facilitate the acquisition of grants and other resources by the Commission, the City, or any other partner(s) in order to support our purpose.

Commitment: As a Commissioner we hope you will do some (or all) of the following:

• Regularly attend the Commission meetings where topics include proposed tasks, progress (or setback) reports, presentations from collaborators, discussions of proposed letters of support, and presentations from Commissioners on their focus groups,
• Bring your curiosity and unique experiences and expertise to our discussions and tasks,
• Contribute to a focus group that aligns with your interests or area of expertise, 
• Occasionally, contribute your time to tasks outside of the monthly meetings and focus groups. These tasks may involve research, editing or writing, or representing Live Well Kingston at other meetings and events. 
• To be an official Commissioner, you’ll be asked to sign an official book in the Clerk’s Office. By signing the book, you will have formally sworn to uphold the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the State of New York, and to faithfully discharge the duties of Live Well Kingston Commissioner. Commissioners are volunteers and will always be afforded the guidance and education necessary to continue serving in good faith.

Additional information and resources:

• Live Well Kingston’s Direction (2025 Blog post)
• Live Well Kingston is coordinated by the City of Kingston’s Health and Wellness Department.
  • Contact: Emily Flynn, Director, Health & Wellness
    City of Kingston, 420 Broadway, Kingston, NY 12401
    Email: eflynn@Kingston-ny.gov, Phone: 845-334-3909
• Sign up for the Live Well Kingston Newsletter [update coming soon]
• Live Well Kingston 2026 Action Plan 
• Live Well Kingston past meeting minutes
• Live Well Commission Meetings on YouTube
• Live Well Kingston Commission Rules of Procedure
• The City of Kingston’s Ethics Code and NYS Open Meetings Law

Message from the Director

Emily Flynn, the Director of Health and Wellness for the City of Kingston.

Live Well Kingston is in a dynamic place in its 13th year*. We just went through a strategic reflection exercise that has clarified our mission, vision, and goals and we are as motivated as ever to create a community where everyone has access to local and nourishing foods, safe active transportation systems, welcoming public spaces, and community connection.

We conduct this work through subcommittees known as focus teams. There are five active groups: Age Well, Eat Well, Grow Well, Play Well, and Travel Well. With clarified goals, each group will be working on strategies to increase access to healthy options.

We are gaining momentum with engaged and committed Commissioners. We will be testing out a new structure in 2026. Each Commissioner will lead a specific role. Five of the seats will be connected to the subcommittees, which we refer to as focus teams. Six of the seats will play specific board roles, including chair, vice-chair, secretary, assessment, engagement, and development. With this new structure, our hope is that members will provide leadership and guidance with a specific need in mind.

We have seen some staffing changes in the last few years and it’s with joy that we wish Marsha Sebro and Kristin Kessler success on their journeys with other organizations.

We have accomplished a variety of projects in the past few years and are laying the foundation for new projects. Continue reading to learn more about all that we have accomplished in 2025 and a bit of preview of our plans for 2026.

*The Live Well Kingston Coalition started in June 2013 and was led by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County. It became a City Commission in February of 2017.

Our Team

The Live Well Kingston Commission is an advisory board to the City of Kingston’s Mayor and Common Council. In addition, the Commission advances its goals with subcommittees called focus teams. Almost everyone that supports this work is volunteering their time or able to use their paid work to collaborate. The Department of Health and Wellness coordinates the program. We wouldn’t be able to do this work without you all and we are deeply thankful.

2025 Achievements

Live Well Kingston Commission

The Live Well Kingston Commission completed a strategic reflection that revised the mission, vision, and goals. We envision a city where everyone has access to local and nourishing foods, safe active transportation systems, welcoming public spaces, and community connection. We do this by bringing partners and residents together in focus teams to facilitate programming, communications, policy and systems changes that increase access to healthy opportunities.

In addition to these specialized conversations, the Commission reviewed health data and communications and signed 10 letters of support or advocacy in 2025.

In 2026 we hope to update the rules of procedure, improve our welcoming process, and increase our communications.

AGE WELL

Age Well focused on recruiting volunteers for the Office for Aging transportation programs Neighbor to Neighbor Program and Go Go Grandparent at 17 community events! Next year, we’re going to work on increasing communications about healthy opportunities.

Meeting Times

Every other month, Third Tuesdays, 2pm

EAT WELL

Eat Well had a fantastic year thanks to leadership from Ninette Warner and Kristin Kessler. The Kingston Eats and Kingston Cooks programs continued with the Harvest of the Month awareness campaign and six cooking workshops. Three presentations about school nutrition, Hudson Valley farming, and the Hudson Valley Social Care Network were hosted. Those recordings can be viewed here. Kristin authored two food policy newsletters and created a resource hub. In addition, the Food Systems Plan wrapped up. We’ll use this plan to inspire work for 2025.

GROW WELL

Grow Well supports community garden stewards with meetings and supportive projects. They met 19 times at nine different gardens and via Zoom in 2025. They hosted the third annual garden tour, delivered compost, fixed a garden fence, hosted a co-meeting and cooking workshop with Eat Well, tabled at the Earth Fair, and Cindy hosted a seedling workshop at the Library. See the Grow Well Garden map here!

Meeting Times

Met first Tuesdays and third Mondays during the 2025 growing season. This may change in 2026.

PLAY WELL

Play Well increased access to parks and nature by meeting 8 times, working with Trust Up to create a list of physical activity opportunities and reviewing their “The Alternatives” app, supported the Nature Everywhere project hosted by Wild Earth, and supported a tree tour with the Urban Forestry Department. The Health and Wellness Department finished managing the construction of the new Post Office Park and held a ribbon cutting on June 27th. In 2026, Play Well will be conducting a survey of nature access in Kingston parks and facilities.

Meeting Times

Fourth Fridays, 11am

TRAVEL WELL

A bicycle rack installed on Hurley Ave.

Although Travel Well only met once in 2025, lots of great work increased access to walking and bicycling. The Kingston Parks and Recreation Department led seven Thursday evening community bicycle rides and installed 15 bicycle racks in 2025 (38 total for the program started in 2023). The Complete Streets Advisory Council met 12 times. The Health and Wellness Department co-led, with the Ulster County Planning Department, the Greenline Leadership Team and is developing a trail stewardship program. Thanks to NYSERDA, a Clean Mobility Plan was created that envisioned how a rentable bicycle system could be implemented in Kingston and a demonstration grant was applied for. In addition, a request for proposals for a sidewalk funding plan was published. Much of this work will continue in 2026!

Meeting Times

No standing meeting at this time

The Live Well Kingston Commission, a program of the Health & Wellness Department at the City of Kingston, has completed a strategic reflection process. We are happy to share with you the updated mission, vision, goals, and new structure.

🌟Vision

Live Well Kingston envisions a city where everyone has access to local and nourishing foods, safe active transportation systems, welcoming public spaces, and community connection.

🎯Mission

Live Well Kingston brings partners and residents together in focus teams to facilitate programming, communications, policy, and systems changes that increase access to healthy opportunities.

📈Goals

Increase access to:

• Healthy, nourishing foods
• Community gardens
• Parks, public spaces, and nature
• Safe active transportation systems
• Information about healthy opportunities

New Structure

In addition, the Commission has decided to try a new structure. Each Commissioner will lead a specific role. Five of the seats will be connected to the subcommittees that we call “focus teams.” Six of the seats will play specific board roles including: chair, vice-chair, secretary, assessment, engagement, and development. With this new structure our hope is that members will provide leadership and guidance with a specific need in mind.

Focus Teams

Live Well Kingston has six subcommittees called focus teams:

• Age Well – improves access to healthy, nourishing foods; community gardens; safe active transportation systems; parks and nature; and community connection for older adults.
• Eat Well – improves physical, social, and economic access to healthy, nourishing foods.
• Grow Well – improves access to community gardens.
• Play Well – improves access to parks, public spaces, and nature.
• Travel Well – improves access to safe active transportation systems.
• Communications – increases access to information about healthy opportunities.

About The Live Well Kingston Commission

As an advisory board within the City of Kingston’s government structure, the Live Well Kingston Commission is a volunteer-based body that provides expertise and recommendations specifically on community health and wellness initiatives. It is coordinated by the Health and Wellness Department which reports to the Mayor’s office.

What makes this Commission particularly effective is its collaborative approach, bringing together healthcare professionals, business owners, community organizations, and residents to ensure diverse perspectives inform public health decisions. We work through focus groups that tackle specific aspects of community wellness, like healthy eating and active living, and partnering with city departments, local businesses, and community organizations.

Can you help?

• Join a focus team meeting!
• Research programming for seniors
• Recruit volunteers for the Neighbor to Neighbor program
• Assess a park for nature access
• Help with social media
• Tell a neighbor about Live Well Kingston

Have another idea?

Connect with Emily via email or phone at eflynn@kingston-ny.gov, 845-334-3909.

Meghan L. Weygant, MBA, Chief Operating Officer, Hudson Valley Care Coalition

In October, Eat Well Kingston welcomed Meghan L. Weygant, MBA, Chief Operating Officer, Hudson Valley Care Coalition to tell us about the Hudson Valley Social Care Network. The network can be a referral system for folks to access resources. Community-based organizations can be reimbursed for enrolling people who qualify for Medicaid.

About the Eat Well Focus Team

The purpose of the Eat Well Focus Team is to develop, implement and/or support policy, systems and environmental change by supporting and promoting local efforts to improve access to healthy foods throughout the community. We coordinate with gardening/urban agriculture efforts and organizations addressing food insecurity and healthy eating in Kingston.

Our partners include farmers, chefs, teachers, artists, nutrition educators, dietitians, parents, non-profit and for-profit organizations, communicators, systems changers, volunteer organizations, private businesses, health practitioners, nurses, doctors and most importantly: YOU.

Visit https://livewellkingston.org/focus-teams/eat-well/ for more information.

Issue 5: June 2025

Hello! Welcome to the fifth edition of Kingston’s Food Policy Bites! This edition will be a little unique. Typically the structure of each Food Policy Bites provides a narrative that asks a thought-provoking question through which to learn about a specific food policy topic, including a bit of history and technical details followed by application to Kingston, before answering the question with a Food Policy Takeaway.

However, with so much happening so quickly in the food policy world, this time we wanted to provide you with the tools, platforms, and other resources to understand all topics related to food policy in our ever-changing food system right now. We’ll summarize a few of the tools, applying some of their recent updates to topics that hit home in Kingston to keep that local connection you like. Scroll down to learn about the following resources:

• Civil Eats Food Policy Tracker
• Food Fix
• Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
• Healthy Food Policy Project
• Even More Policy Trackers & Resources

Find it here: https://civileats.com/food-policy-tracker/

About Civil Eats: Civil Eats is an independent, award-winning news site that covers the American food system, including topics of intersectionality of food and other significant social and political issues.

About the Food Policy Tracker: Launched in 2025, this tracker lets you search for posts related to actions taken by the president, federal agencies, and Congress that directly relate to or have significant implications for the food system. Tags include words and phrases like Nutrition, Farmers, Local Food, School Food, and more.

Civil Eats is one of the best news sources for food systems-related news. They post frequently, sometimes daily, about a wide variety of food topics.

So What About Kingston?

As a small city nestled in a rich agricultural region, many if not most of these stories can connect to life in Kingston. For example:

June 12, 2025- Senate Ag Committee Proposes Significant, but Smaller, Cuts to SNAP

This article summarizes the Senate Agriculture Committee’s proposed text for the federal budget reconciliation bill, which would impact Kingston starting October 1, 2025. The Senate’s plan cuts $209 million from SNAP. For a connection to home, one in 10 households use SNAP in Ulster County, and in some neighborhoods in Kingston that can go up to one in 4 (read this previous Food Policy Bite for more information on SNAP).

It also eliminates funding for SNAP-Ed. SNAP-Ed in Kingston funds free community and school nutrition education, and is one of the funding sources for the Creating Healthy Schools and Communities (CHSC) grant. For more information on SNAP-Ed, here is a link to a statewide impact report and here is the CHSC Year 3 Impact Report.

The Senate’s bill also increases spending on farm bill programs including commodity payments, crop insurance, and conservation programs, although strips the funding of its original designation for climate-smart practices.

Find it here: https://foodfix.co/

About Food Fix: Food Fix is a weekly newsletter from award-winning reporter Helena Bottemiller Evich, who previously led food and agriculture issues at POLITICO for nearly a decade. Helena both reports on food-related news happening in Washington DC, as well as provides contextual groundsetting, commentary, and analysis based upon her 16 years of experience in covering the topics. She works to make it both informative for professionals as well as approachable for consumers.

So What About Kingston?

The most recent newsletter shared was also about the Senate’s cuts to SNAP. This dives into where the cuts will be coming from, such as increasing work requirements, which studies have shown are not effective in increasing adults actually working as they do not address the underlying barriers to obtaining livable wage jobs, and shifting cost shares to states, and how that will impact tough decisions states will have to make regarding their budgets in the future. At the end, she provides her analysis of the situation, including some historical context that led to the situation, and what might happen going forward.

Another recent issue, MAHA commission report under fire over fake citations, reports on fake studies that were referenced in the Make America Healthy Again report that was recently released. This report is relevant to Kingston as it could have big implications on federal nutrition standards and priorities that govern things like school meals and food pantry nutrition programs; or not, considering the reduction in funding for programs that support nutrition education and access to nutritious foods. Again, Food Fix has a detailed analysis on that.

Find it here: https://www.cbpp.org/newsletter/signup/update

About Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) is a “nonpartisan research and policy institute that advances federal and state policies to help build a nation where everyone — regardless of income, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, ZIP code, immigration status, or disability status — has the resources they need to thrive and share in the nation’s prosperity.”

They cover numerous topics, some directly related to food, like food assistance, and some more tangentially but still importantly related, such as immigration and the economy. In addition to having a virtual newsletter, they also have a series called “Policy Basics” which gives a brief background on topics like the federal budget, taxes, and government assistance programs.

So What About Kingston?

CBPP differs from the others in that it reports on budgets and taxes overall, not just those exclusively related to food.

For example, their most recent newsletter covers the impact of the House-passed reconciliation bill on health care coverage for Americans. Millions of people would lose their health insurance coverage because of proposed cuts to Medicaid and changes to the Affordable Care Act, which means they would lose both preventative care as well as care for life-threatening conditions and chronic diseases.

Medicaid provides health care coverage for low-income children, families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities, including many here in Kingston.

Find it here: https://healthyfoodpolicyproject.org/

About Healthy Food Policy Project: Healthy Food Policy Project is a collaboration of the Center for Agriculture and Food Systems at Vermont Law School (CAFS), the Public Health Law Center (PHLC), and the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health at the University of Connecticut, funded by the National Agricultural Library, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

It is not a real-time tracker of changing local, state, and federal policies. Instead, it is can be viewed more as a food policy resource and database. There are 605 coded laws catalogued in its Policy Database, along with food systems frameworks and case studies to help those who want to get food systems projects started, but aren’t interested in starting from scratch.

So What About Kingston?

The database has been a wealth of information in doing research for both these Food Policy Bites, as well as informing strategies and tactics highlighted in the upcoming Food Systems Plan.

A Note on the Food Systems Plan: After a strategic pause to reflect and make updates, followed by some unavoidable delays, the Food Systems Plan is back on track! It is currently with a graphic designer for a beautification pass that will also increase its inclusivity and intuitiveness through design. A public comment period to come later this year, exact timing TBA. Follow along at https://engagekingston.com/food-system-plan for more updates.

Even More Policy Trackers & Resources

Learning about and keeping up with food policy can be messy and confusing, but it’s critical for understanding the food system. It’s important to find a variety of trusted, reputable sources to help you hone in on the important facts and messaging while you drown out the noise.

If you have a favorite policy tracker not listed here, please let us know and we’ll add it to our list!

For more information on food & nutrition projects at the City of Kingston, reach out to Kristin Kessler, RDN, CDN, RYT at kkessler@kingston-ny.gov

If you want to receive future Food Policy Bites in your inbox, Sign Up Here.

An Eat Well Kingston Presentation

In June 2025, Eat Well Kingston welcomed Kathryn Brignac, Livestock & Natural Resources Educator at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County, who presented on what the 2022 Census of Agriculture tells us about Ulster County farms, emerging trends and opportunities​ in agriculture locally, current challenges farms are facing and how to eat farm fresh and support local farms.

Click here for Kathryn’s slides

About the Eat Well Focus Team

The purpose of the Eat Well Focus Team is to develop, implement and/or support policy, systems and environmental change by supporting and promoting local efforts to improve access to healthy foods throughout the community. We coordinate with gardening/urban agriculture efforts and organizations addressing food insecurity and healthy eating in Kingston.

Our partners include farmers, chefs, teachers, artists, nutrition educators, dietitians, parents, non-profit and for-profit organizations, communicators, systems changers, volunteer organizations, private businesses, health practitioners, nurses, doctors and most importantly: YOU.

Visit https://livewellkingston.org/focus-teams/eat-well/ for more information.

Powerful things are blossoming in Kingston – fresh, delicious meals, creative programs, and a whole lot of community love. Supported by the Creating Healthy Schools and Communities (CHSC) grant, this storytelling series featuring 9 interviews with 10 community members uplifts the powerful work already happening across Kingston. These stories remind us that wellness begins in kitchens, on sidewalks, at community meetings, and in the relationships we grow together. By listening intently and honoring community expertise, we can build systems that reflect the lives, needs and dreams of those most impacted. This is a love letter to that kind of care: creative, rooted, collective, and ongoing.

Check out all of the posts on our Live Well Kingston Instagram and Facebook pages (shared June 9-20, 2025), or our Special Edition newsletters, Seeds of Change (In Our Schools) and Harvests of Care (In Our Community).

Find The Stories In The Media

Daily Freeman- ‘Kingston Spotlights’ showcases residents tackling food insecurity, health disparities

Radio Kingston/I Want What She Has- 381 Kingston Spotlights with Kristin Kessler

Radio Kingston/The Black Meta- The INTERVIEW: THE RE-RETURN of KRISTIN KESSLER, RDN, CDN, CYT … City of Kingston Food & Nutrition Lead Project Manager!

Kingston Wire- ‘Kingston Spotlights’ Demonstrates How Community Can Be A Verb

Interested In Featuring Our Campaign?

We’d love to uplift, amplify, or otherwise celebrate the incredible work of our incredible friends and neighbors. If you agree with us that local stories are powerful, impactful, and important, and are interested in sharing on your media platform please contact:

Kristin Kessler, RDN, CDN, CYT

Food & Nutrition Lead, Department of Health and Wellness, City of Kingston

kkessler@kingston-ny.gov 845-334-3917

A Big Serving Of Gratitude

Thank you to everyone who was a part of the creation of this project, including:

Storytelling Team

Mae Ryan, Photographer & Documentary Filmmaker
Sevaad Walker, Media Creator & Marketing Lead
Agatha Bacelar, Media Creator & Ethical Storytelling Lead
Andrea Lubrano, Nutritionist & Consultant

Interviewees

Claudette Ford
Devon Wood
Emmet Moeller
Jana Conti
Jason and Emily Daniels
Joe Baganz
Kate Berardi
Melissa Parker
Roselyn Vargas

CHSC team

Ninette Warner
Tracy Snyder
Emily Flynn
Kristin Kessler

This project was supported with funds from the New York State Department of Health’s Creating Healthy Schools and Communities grant.

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!