NEWBURGH – The City of Newburgh is planning recreation activities for the summer season that will comply with social distancing recommendations. Certain traditional city-sponsored community programs are canceled and city staff are working on alternatives to accommodate the need for socially distant activities.
The city is exploring a Slow Streets/Play Streets model to help people safely engage in recreational activities outdoors. In addition, the city is also engaging with local restaurants in an effort to accommodate increased outdoor seating, should specific roads end up being closed to vehicular traffic.
Newburgh officials are expediting the closing of all streets through Downing Park to vehicles including Carpenter Avenue, Haible Way, and Mayor Joan Shapiro Drive. These efforts are being done to provide safe space for walking, running, biking and rollerblading.
Additional city-wide activities being explored include outdoor exercise classes, socially distanced entertainment, and family-friendly events, including drive-in movies for everyone including people who do not have cars. These projects are planned to launch incrementally and will align with the governor’s phased re-opening of the Mid-Hudson region.
Businesses, including restaurants, interested in using non-traditional outdoor spaces this summer as part of their re-opening plans should reach out to the Department of Planning and Development at 845-569-9400.
Downing Park is open to the public, along with neighborhood parks including Xavier Lunan Park, Audrey Carey Park, Tyrone Crabb Park, Hasbrouck Park, the Bluff, Crystal Lake, Snake Hill, and the Consolidated Iron site which offers a waterfront trail from Washington Street to Ward Brothers Park. The tennis courts on South Street also remain open.
The Washington Street Boat Launch is also open. Day passes can be purchased from the on-site kiosk using a credit or debit card and season passes are available from the City Clerk’s Office by phone at 845-569-7311. Shoreline fishing on the Hudson is permitted as long as social distancing guidelines are followed.
City-run spring/summer soccer, basketball, and camp programs are canceled. All recreational sporting fields are also closed as well as playground equipment throughout the City with the exception of the water features at Audrey Carey Park which will open in June.
The Skate Park at Delano Hitch is closed and the hoop systems at basketball courts have been temporarily removed. The Aquatic Center, including the pool, is also closed to the public at this time. The fields at Delano Hitch Stadium will be renovated during the period of closure and it is especially important that these areas not be frequented.
