FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 5, 2020

City of Kingston Seeks Input on Open Streets Plan

KINGSTON, NY – Mayor Steven T. Noble is pleased to announce that a public opinion survey has been posted at EngageKingston.com seeking input on an Open Streets concept for the City of Kingston.  

As the Mid-Hudson region enters Phase II of reopening on Tuesday June 9, local businesses are planning to open and preparing best practices for following COVID-19 guidelines issued by New York State. To assist in these efforts, the City of Kingston is considering an Open Streets plan that would help our shops and restaurants get back to business by operating outdoors. In an Open Street scenario, streets are closed to vehicular traffic and opened up to pedestrians, creating more physical space for outdoor dining and open-air shopping.

“We recognize everyone is eager for our local businesses to reopen, but we also must continue to be vigilant about the health and wellness of our entire community,” said Mayor Noble. “We hope this concept will both help local businesses and offer safe shopping and dining for residents. Whether you're a Kingston business owner, resident or visitor, please take a moment to fill out the survey and provide your feedback.”

The City of Kingston would initiate the Open Streets plan by the end of June and continue through Columbus Day. The survey will be open until June 12, 2020, and can be found here: https://engagekingston.com/open-streets-initiative. 

Businesses interested in participating in Open Streets should use this survey to reserve the public spaces necessary for outdoor operation. More resources and guidance for businesses entering Phase II can be found at https://kingston-ny.gov/kingstonrecovers.