Kingston mayor touts infrastructure, housing and climate plans in State of the City address

Mayor Steve Noble delivered the City of Kingston’s annual State of the City address at the Jan. 7 common council meeting, reviewing projects completed in 2024 and announcing new initiatives for 2025.

Noble highlighted recent and completed work across public safety, infrastructure, parks and housing and urged residents to take an active role in the city’s future. “Ask not what your city can do for you; ask what you can do for your city,” he said.

The address recapped the city’s first year operating its own emergency medical response: the fire department’s ambulance program responded to 4,500 medical calls with a reported response rate above 99 percent in its first year. Noble listed 2024 infrastructure accomplishments including the Ward Street Bridge rehabilitation, paving of 20 streets, installation of 58 ADA curb ramps and completion of the Henry Street Safe Routes to School and Clinton Avenue intersection projects. He said the city collected about 1,500 tons of recycling and more than 7,000 tons of refuse during 2024.

Noble noted community facilities work: lead and asbestos remediation at the Andy Murphy Neighborhood Center and recent opening of Post Office Park. He described a finished, multi‑million dollar Dietz (Deeds) Stadium renovation with new track, turf, locker rooms and public amenities and said the facility will remain open to the public during daylight hours in the winter.

On housing, Noble reiterated the administration’s target to approve 1,000 new housing units by 2029 and discussed several projects and studies intended to increase housing supply, including a proposed mixed‑use development downtown, a feasibility study for housing at the Kingston Business Park, support for the Barrel Factory adaptive‑reuse project (12 affordable units opened and 100 additional units under development), and a planned RFP to redevelop the Brownfield at 25 Field Court.

Noble described programs funded with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars, including an accessory dwelling unit design competition that produced permit‑ready ADU plans, a new parking lot at Kingston Point Rail Trail and playground and bleacher improvements at the Andy Murphy Neighborhood Center. He said the city hired its first urban forester and has planted 477 trees toward a 1,000‑tree goal.

Announced 2025 initiatives and funding included: - A proposed tree‑preservation ordinance to protect large native species; - A $3.5 million state grant to plan Kingston Point Beach erosion and sea‑level rise protections; - A $650,000 state grant to build a skate park at Hasbrouck Park; - Phase 1 of a wayfinding plan to install gateway and directional signs at more than 40 locations; - Transition of the city fleet to renewable diesel this spring (Noble said the fuel reduces diesel emissions by about 65% when used in existing diesel engines) and delivery of 12 EVs to the Kingston Police Department; - A U.S. Geological Survey stream gauge on Roundout Creek funded with ARPA dollars to improve flood forecasting.

Noble also noted local policy changes and partnerships: the council adopted a citywide 25 mph speed limit in 2024, the Community Preservation Fund passed in November to support open space and historic preservation, and Kingston Organics compost program enrolled more than 1,000 residents and diverted over 50 tons of food waste in its first year. He closed by urging residents to participate in a new comprehensive planning process to guide the next decade.

Noble delivered the address at the common council meeting after routine council business and his remarks ran through multiple agenda items. Several projects he cited are described as proposals, funding awards or studies; the mayor did not present each as completed capital work.

Looking ahead, Noble invited broad community participation in upcoming planning and implementation steps for housing, parks, and safety projects.