FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 27, 2025

Mayor Noble Announces Post Office Park Completion & Grand Opening

KINGSTON, NY – Mayor Steven T. Noble, the Parks & Recreation Department, and the Department of Health and Wellness are pleased to announce that, on Friday, June 27, the City of Kingston celebrated the grand opening of Post Office Park with a ribbon cutting event.

Mayor Noble said, “I am so proud to officially open this greenspace to the public today. From the park naming, to the landscaping concept, to the artwork that was commissioned, this project has been community-driven at every step along the way. It is truly gratifying to see a space that was formerly a dangerous intersection with a blighted, abandoned building on the corner, transformed into a beautiful community space for all to gather.”

Construction of Post Office Park, the two greenspaces located at the intersection of Broadway, Grand Street and Prince Street, included new sidewalks, paths, 28 new trees, shrubs, perennials, game tables, benches, bicycle racks, elements referencing the former post office, and interpretive signage. KaN Landscape Design, a women-owned, Kingston-based landscape design firm, was contracted to develop community-driven landscape design plans. OCS Industries, Inc., a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Service Business (SDVOSB) of Poughkeepsie, was the construction contractor.

The creation of Post Office Park was kicked off when then-Assemblymember Kevin Cahill helped the City of Kingston secure a $750,000 grant from the NYSDOT Multi-Modal Program in 2019 to buy the property where a long-abandoned fast-food restaurant sat. Working with GPI, the engineering consultants for the Broadway Streetscape Project, the Broadway Grand Street Intersection Improvements project realigned and improved safety at the formerly dangerous intersection. The City redesigned the intersection to reduce traveler confusion, crashes, and near-misses. The site connects the bike lane on Broadway to the Empire State Trail, Kingston Greenline, and other pedestrian and bicycle routes.

To name the new park, the City of Kingston put out an open call for ideas and, of the 62 community suggestions, the Recreation Commission was asked to narrow the names to 10 choices. A public poll was taken, and Post Office Park won.

Emily Flynn, Project Manager said, “The landscape designers envisioned that there might be a future phase of the park that would commemorate the Post Office even more with structures that represent the stone steps and columns. Today, we invite you to enjoy this iteration that creates a public space to remember the Post Office with a sculpture and interpretive sign, a Tree of Peace--a symbol for native cultures, and pinkster azaleas, which are associated with a historically Dutch Christian holiday and the oldest African American holiday. It is also a rest area along the Empire State Trail and Kingston Greenline where you can enjoy lunch from one of the local restaurants and play ping pong and chess.”

Hudson Valley sculptor and architect Richard Scherr won the Post Office Park Small Monument Competition, and his sculpture was installed on a pedestal in Post Office Park today. Applicants were asked to provide design concepts that pay homage to the post office that stood on the site.

Sculptor Richard Scherr said, “I'm so gratified and honored to have been chosen to help commemorate the memory of the beautiful Post Office that was on this site. The monument depicts a beloved piece of Kingston that was lost, but also symbolizes the redeeming spirit of resistance to such an act. The supporting poles suggest the community of Kingston, after the terrible act of the post office's destruction, has come together to spiritually resurrect, and pay tribute to the building's memory. Hopefully, we will never allow such important, wonderful examples of our City's history to ever be lost again.”

The project was funded by a Community Development Block Grant and American Rescue Plan Act funding. The landscape design was made possible with funding from the New York State Department of Health’s Creating Healthy Schools and Communities Grant program. New York Main Street funding administered by RUPCO provided grant funding for the game tables.

More information about the project at: https://engagekingston.com/post-office-park. 

The Broadway Grand Intersection Improvements Project was yet another step in Mayor Noble’s ongoing efforts to create a safe, walkable, and bikeable City. Completed projects include the Broadway Streetscape Project, Henry Street Safe Routes to School Project, the Franklin Street Complete Streets Project, and the Pedestrian Safety Action Plan Intersection Project, among many others. The City created a Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan, a strategy document that builds upon completed projects that include safety features such as improved intersections, signals and sidewalks. Current or upcoming road safety projects include ADA curb ramp replacements across the City, Safe and Accessible Flatbush & Foxhall, the Uptown Transportation Improvements Projects, among many. 

Under Mayor Noble’s administration, the Kingston Point Rail Trail Phase 1 (Phase 2 is under design) and the Midtown Linear Park have been created, both of which provide off-street paths and connections for walking and biking. The Kingston Greenline is a network of urban trails, complete streets, improved sidewalks, bike lanes, and linear parks in Kingston.