The following press release was issued this afternoon by Friends of the Public Square.
Friends of the Public Square (FOPS) and the City of Hudson are pleased to announce that new bids are being solicited for the first stage of renovating the Seventh Street Park. The revised bid documents, prepared by Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects & Planners, cover improvements that will cost around the $1 million in funds that FOPS has raised to date.
Requests for Information will be due on July 31, and bids will be due on August 11, 2026. A committee that includes New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) and Hudson Mayor Joe Ferris will select the winning bidder in August.
Once a bid is accepted, groundbreaking in the park can happen in Fall 2026. FOPS co-chair Katherine Kanaga said, “We are thrilled that we now have the pieces in place to break ground this year. Hudson, more than ever, deserves a beautiful oasis in the heart of its business district.”
The $1 million to pay for this first phase comes from a $500,000 matching grant OPRHP and grants from Spark of Hudson and grants initiated by Assembly Member Didi Barrett and Senator Michelle Hinchey. It does not include a federal grant of $250,000 obtained for the park by Representative Josh Riley. This additional funding, once it is received, will be used for a new fountain at the square’s center.
"Hudson's original gathering place is one step closer to once again becoming a public space for everyone," said Hudson Mayor Joseph Ferris. "The release of the construction bid for phase one of restoration work for the Seventh Street Park means shovels will soon be in the ground. This will bring an expanded plaza, new open seating area and lighting, restored pathways and a new location for the veterans memorial that provides it the greater place of prominence it deserves. Today's milestone is the result of a true team effort. Representative Josh Riley, State Senator Michelle Hinchey, Assembly Member Didi Barrett and their offices have done incredible work securing crucial grant funding. New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation have been an essential partner in this project as have the community partners who have provided generous support. And none of this would have been possible without the tireless work and unflagging commitment shown by the Friends of the Public Square team."
Hire an arborist to tell you which trees should come down before a limb kills someone. Then redo the park. Trees first! A tree expert will find at least one that should come down.
ReplyDeleteI am confused as to why they hired a landscape architect firm from outside Hudson when there is a very respected firm here in Hudson _ Wagner Hodgson.
ReplyDeleteWagner Hodgson has an office in Hudson, and so does Starr Whitehouse.
DeleteStarr Whitehouse gave us the dangerous and unnecessary steps at the entrance to Promenade (closest to sidewalk). When ramps on each side of the middle ramp would have sufficed, been cheaper and more attractive, more appropriate and safe, they gave us short (rise) and long (depth) bluestone steps that are awkward and difficult to see (and constantly stained from bad grout). I have seen two people stumble on them, and I came very close to it the first time I was there after the reopening. They knew they made a mistake, because eventually the edge of each step was marked with a groove and painted, which has not held up well. It's always a good idea to keep designers from getting too carried away. Lots of egos vying for attention in that world. There was no need for those steps. At some point, they will probably be removed and replaced with brick ramps.
DeleteGood to see private funds raised for a public park, and credit to the FOPS board.
ReplyDeleteGo Kanagas!
Their MOU with the City is clean and gives them no special perks.
Not every City nonprofit MOU reads that way.
The Friends of Hudson Youth agreement for Oakdale gives a nonprofit officer a formal role in the City budget process.
One of these is how it should be done.