‘Great ideas’ on how to spend $45K in the city
The city is “gathering a lot of great ideas” from the public about how to spend $45,000 in parking revenues on improvements in Kingston’s three business districts, Mayor Steve Noble said recently.
“The ideas have ranged from installing public water fountains to adding more trash and recycling bins in specific areas to community art installations and so much more,” Noble said in an email. “We’ve heard requests for funding to establish a youth employment program, develop a racial justice training, implement a bike-share program, and even to build an ice skating rink.”
“The community has offered wonderful ideas and I look forward to reviewing all of the proposed projects at the end of the month,” Noble said.
The mayor said about 50 different ideas had been submitted and he expected to get more in the form of online submissions and from the last public session to be held Tuesday, Aug. 28. That session is scheduled for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Hudson River Maritime Museum at 50 Rondout Landing.
Similar sessions were held earlier in the month at City Hall in Midtown and the LGBTQ Community Center in Uptown.
Of the total $45,000 in funding, $15,000 each is to be spent in the Uptown, Midtown and Downtown business districts.
Once all the project ideas have been submitted, the city will review each for feasibility, estimated cost, conflicts with other Kingston projects, and legal issues, Noble said. He said his staff would issue a response to each of the projects so the public knows what was proposed and which projects were not possible, and why.
A public poll is to be launched later in September to select the final projects to be funded, the mayor said.
“It should be noted that, regardless of which projects are ultimately selected by the public in the fall, each of these project submissions are being considered for future investments and could be incorporated into other city projects,” Noble said.
To submit an idea, members of the public can attend the Aug. 28 public session, complete the project submission form online at www.kingston-ny. gov/ParticipatoryBudgeting, drop off project ideas at City Hall, or mail suggestions to City Hall, 420 Broadway, Kingston, N.Y. 12401. Submissions will be accepted until Aug. 31.