ULSTER COUNTY, NY (Nov. 8, 2023)—The Open Space Institute (OSI) and the Kingston Land Trust (KLT) today announced the launch of the “Kingston Community Survey.” The survey is an effort by the two groups to evaluate community needs and identify opportunities to enhance Kingston’s trails, parks, and green spaces.
OSI and KLT are seeking to identify and measure the attributes of outdoor spaces, amenities, and resources that contribute to a strong sense of community in Kingston. In addition to the survey, OSI and KLT will also be conducting interviews with Kingston-based organizations and community leaders. This information could be used to inform future Kingston-based programs, non-motorized transit opportunities, park and trail improvements, and potential trail linkages.
The Kingston Community Survey builds on OSI’s Growing Greenways: West of Hudson Greenway Trails Vision Plan (“Growing Greenways Plan”) to connect eight Hudson Valley trail networks and create an interconnected, multiuse trail network spanning more than 250 miles and connecting dozens of communities throughout Ulster, Sullivan, and Orange counties. Learn more about OSI’s Growing Greenways Plan here.
“The Kingston Community Survey is a critical initial step toward gathering information from residents and potential users of outdoor spaces. Our hope is that the results of the survey will provide useful insights so that future park, trail, and outdoor projects in the area reflect local needs and provide meaningful and long-term community value,” said Peter Karis, vice president of Parks and Stewardship at OSI. “With this survey, OSI and partner organizations are excited to deepen our connection with Kingston’s communities, local organizations, and residents so that we can determine how OSI’s unique land protection and park improvement expertise can best advance community goals.”
"For more than a decade the Kingston Land Trust has been committed to the development of the Kingston Greenline trail network, non-motorized transportation improvements, and publicly accessible open space in partnership with the City of Kingston and Ulster County. It is incredibly affirming to see these new facilities being embraced and utilized by the community- but we know there's more work to be done before Kingston is a truly walkable and bikeable city. We recognize that as infrastructure improvements present unanticipated challenges, they also create new opportunities. We are excited to partner with the Open Space Institute to better understand how people are interfacing with the Kingston Greenline, what their needs and concerns are, and how we should prioritize and direct these aspects of our mission into the future,” said Ted Griese, managing director at KLT.
“The City of Kingston looks forward to partnering with the Open Space Institute and Kingston Land Trust to improve our trails, parks, and public spaces for all community members,” said Mayor Steve Noble. “Future projects will build on our development of the Greenline network of trails and complete streets, a wayfinding plan for the Greenline, park improvements, The Open Space Plan, the Community Preservation Plan, the Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan, and many other projects.”
Members of the Kingston community are encouraged to complete the survey in English at https://arcg.is/155zjb0 or in Spanish at https://arcg.is/1v9zuG1.
The Kingston Community Survey was informed in part by a Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) in Conservation Planning workshop initiative hosted by the Institute for Conservation Leadership for OSI with funding from the William Penn Foundation.
About the Open Space Institute
The Open Space Institute protects scenic, natural, and historic landscapes to provide public enjoyment, conserve habitat and working lands, and sustain communities. Founded in 1974 to protect significant landscapes in New York State, OSI has been a partner in the protection of nearly 2.3 million acres in North America.
The Hudson River Valley, with its rich history and unparalleled beauty, is a place worth protecting. And it’s where the Open Space Institute got its start. Nearly five decades ago, the Open Space Institute set out to protect the places that make this region so very special. Today, the Open Space Institute has protected more than 80,000 acres in the Hudson Valley. Building on this conservation success, the Open Space Institute also works to make these and other protected lands more welcoming and accessible to the public.
About the Kingston Land Trust
The Kingston Land Trust protects environmentally and socially significant land for the common good. In addition to traditional land conservation, we work collaboratively to address inequities by making land accessible to the community through urban agriculture, commuter trails, recreation, heritage sites, and affordable homes. Our innovative and inclusive programming encourages our diverse community to live in a sustainable and healthy relationship to the land and other living beings.