Creating an Urban Green TrailKingston, New York

Melissa Everett, Ph.D.Executive Directorwww.sustainhv.org

Guy Thomas KempeDirector of Community Developmentwww.rupco.org

Session Objectives

Identify New opportunities for Sustainable, Green community development projects

Recognize the importance of Strategic Partnerships and Alliances to the Greening of Main Streets

Replicate the Green Trail model on Main Street in your community.

Traditional Urban Trailshttp://www.trails.org/map_files/spring-point-description.html

Trails for Community Health & Fitness

Bringing More of the Natural Environment to the City…

Concepts of sustainable development represent strategies for changing negative trends to improve well-being of a city’s residents Urban green space fulfills several critical functions in an urban context that benefit people’s quality of life Urban green space is of value in cities as currently constructed, and of importance to planning new urban areas- ecological citiesSteadily growing traffic and urban heat not only damage the environment, but also incur social and economic costs

…raises environmental awareness, creates value, restores community

Interpret the cost savings and social benefit by making even small, incremental changes to existing situations To be enduring, an integrated approach is needed for designing and maintaining urban green spaceAsset Mapping is an excellent technique to help vision a green trail

Repurpose a Green Line on Broadway

Melissa Everett, SHV Guy Kempe, RUPCO Patrice Courtney-Strong, NY Energy Smart/ NYSERDA Steve Noble, Forsythe Nature Preserve, & Kingston Land TrustEmilie Hauser, Hudson River Estuary Training Program Jennifer Schwartz, County Planning DepartmentJessica Barry, Prism Solar Technologies K.J. McIntyre “Senior Geekette”Digital CorridorEv Mann, CCERebecca Martin, Kingston Citizens

Kingston Green Corridor

Steering Committee

The Kingston Green Trail

Green Corridor Objectives

Reduce carbon footprint of Kingston NY via compelling financing strategy that garners strong local buy-in Create strategic local partnerships and replicable models Focus resources and attention on strategic green building / renovation projects that energize the community.

Create a Green Vision

Start with buildings and institutions that have high visibility and cultural or civic significanceAddress heat island & traffic issues along the corridor Promote energy-efficiency, conservation, recycling and renewable resourcesEvaluate landscaping and storm water management Engage community with public art, design competitions, and hands-on education

Uptown Trail Head: The Kirkland

The Kirkland Hotel - 1903

A State & National Landmark Restoredwith green value added

Kirkland Interior Staircase 2008

The Historic Kirkland Hotel 2008

Award winning Historic Preservation

2008 Project Achievement AwardNew York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commission 2008 Excellence in Historic Preservation

Preservation League of New York State2008 Historic Preservation Award Friends of Historic Kingston

Friends of Historic Kingston

“Preserving a clean environment on our streets is important. It affects the quality of life for residents as well as contributes towards a favorable perception of the city by tourists. As citizens of Kingston, we all share in the responsibility for keeping our streets clean and litter-free.”

FOHK & Business Alliance of Kingston FIRST KINGSTON CLEAN SWEEP

Nearly four tons of litter were cleaned from the streets by more than 300 volunteers as part of the Kingston Clean Sweep on Saturday, April 24

Volunteers from over 20 local service organizations and the community-at-large picked up litter from 9 a.m. to noon from the Thruway Circle to the Strand in Rondout as part of the event sponsored by the Friends of Historic Kingston with support from the City of Kingston.

NYS Main Street Program

KMBA requested RUPCO to secure Main Street Grant (2007).

New York Main Street provides financial resources and technical assistance to communities to strengthen the economic vitality of the State's traditional Main Streets and neighborhoods to revitalizing historic downtowns, mixed-use neighborhood commercial districts, and village centers.

Main Street Guru Norman Mintzprovided Technical Assistance to Kingston funded by NYMS program

Funding to Restore Facade Ulster Performing Arts Center

Streetscape Enhancements Include Solar Pilot Program

2010 Earth Day Ribbon Cutting!

Green Trail Roof Garden Seven21 Broadway

Local Government Initiatives

Green Jobs PledgeEnergy audits & ESCO (Energy Service Company) partnershipParks & Recreation: Paid environmental education staffRail trail participationMain Street ManagerProposed Creation of new BID

Square Foot Garden at City Hall

Kingston Land Trust Community Gardens Program

“Victory Gardens” in Residential Neighborhoods

“Leave It On The Lawn, Kingston!”

Composting landscaping waste to create an organic matter all gardeners refer to as “Black Gold” prized for being fibrous while improving both the water infiltration and the moisture holding capacity of your soil.

Kingston Farmers’ Market

Connecting Local People with Local Food

June to November

Real Estate Marketing Concept“Brooklyn on the Hudson” arts & technology businesses attractionApplication for Google Fiber pilotTech and creative hub for entrepreneurs

“Watchout NYC, we’re coming for

your Geeks.”

Create a Connection

between people-powered

transportation and local business

vitality

“Start Seeing Bicycles”

Bike Racks on Broadway

Arts Society of Kingston

Vibrant creative community organizationRenovation underway and interest in green optionsGallery SpacePerformance space under development

Artists’ Soap Box Derby

Carnegie Library Project

The project is estimated to cost $3.58 million dollars. The proposed development has been a collaborative effort between the City of Kingston, the Center for Creative Education (CCE).

HISTORIC PRESERVATION & SUSTAINABILE DESIGN

Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design - LEEDGeothermal “Ground-source” heat pumpRadiant Floor Heating

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

A 501(c)3 non-profit organization established in 1989 and launched its first youth arts education program in Kingston, New York in 1997.

“Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities”

A national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to address Childhood Obesity. Kingston is not even three miles across at its widest point, making accessibility other than by car a very feasible prospect.1/5 of the city’s population (5,000 citizens) live in povertyCornell Cooperative Extension established 4 year partnership“Complete Streets” goal:

Reduce childhood obesity and promote walking & bikingEliminate the barriers that prevent youth from getting enough exercise by creating safe streets, sidewalks, and protected bike lanes.

Nature Education in the City of Kingston

Nature center ZooEco-tours

The Mission of the Forsyth Nature Center is “To foster the exploration of the natural world in and around our community through educational programming and contact with flora and fauna at an interpretive facility.”

Roundout Harbor Trail HeadHudson River Maritime Museum

Green Museum Renovation

“The Museum will seek to create and foster an awareness on the part of the public of the river environment and ecology and the need to preserve this environment. It will create an awareness of waterfront revitalization efforts and foster public advocacy for planned recreational development along the Hudson River and its tributaries.”

“Time Fest” June 5-6 2010“Time Fest” activities, tours, and special programs with themes rising from the city’s past A “History Jitney” provides rides all weekend to three anchor spots in the city: The Senate House State Historic Site in Uptown, the Kingston Library in Midtown, and the Hudson River Maritime Museum in the Rondout.Period re-enactors such as Sojourner Truth riding on the jitneys to talk about their own historical experiences.“Time Warp Costume Ball”

Grass Roots Organizing

Blogs for Ward based news, information & organizing Government accountability: meeting posting, fiscal analysis, etc.

“Magnetizing Downtowns”

Hudson Valley Smart Growth Alliance

Business Alliance of Kingston

Brings together Three Independent Business Associations Historically Competing with each otherUtilize CDBG Funding for Main Street Manager pilot programProposed Business Improvement Districts (BID) to draw on success models of Hudson River TownsValue-add to justify tax increases: aesthetics and amenities, energy and environmental improvements

Main Street Manager Early Accomplishments

Formal Conduit for Commercial & Cultural NewsIdentify Vacant Storefronts & Possible New Business Recruitment OpportunitiesIdentify Common Interests in innovative green “arts -based” economy

Replicable Models – Asset MappingParades, Festivals, Public Events Institutions, Museums, TheatersHistoric Preservation – SustainabilityLandmarks - Heritage TourismCommunity GardensBike-Friendly CitiesUrban Land Trusts - Park SystemsBusiness Improvement District(s)Farmer’s Market - Agri-TourismClimate Smart CommunitiesArts Community EngagementDigital Activism

Find the pieces that fit

Steps to “Critical Mass”RecognizeStrategizeCollaborateOrganizeActivateCelebrateEvaluate

“Social Capital”is a Foundation for Community Renewal

Elements: trust, give-and-take, collaboration, communicationEconomic value: reduced transaction costsAssists innovation and diffusionSupports peak performance and consensus building

Energy Efficiency Creates Wealth,

Saves Jobs

Energy $ Saved = Payroll $ SpentEnergy Services = Local Jobs

Clean Energy Technology Training ConsortiumForum: Making Your Green Business Work in a Tough

EconomySUNY Ulster's Business Resource Center 4/10/10

Solar in the CityHealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley, the umbrella corporation for Benedictine Hospital & The Kingston Hospital received $423,200 in federal Health and Human Services funding secured by The Solar Energy Consortium. New energy conservation and carbon emissions reduction involving renewable solar energy and efficiency measures.Solar thermal system to generate hot water at the Benedictine campus and the purchase of two hybrid vehicles for transportation between hospitals, High efficiency LED lighting for parking lots and outside areas Solar-powered lighting for outside identifying signs at Kingston and Benedictine hospitals.

Regions that thrive in the 21st Century

Create lively neighborhoods & business districtsCultural and recreational amenitiesGreat sense of “place”Protected natural areasPromote local agriculture – Farmer’s MarketsDeep pride in local character, products, foodsCollaborative process with citizens

Plug-in Bright Ideas that can Evolve

Climate Smart Communities PledgeStimulus funded Energy Manager positionRail trail initiative with significant linkage to parks & commerce

Follow a Green Trail in your Community

Questions, Comments, Concerns