Midtown Linear Park Community Space Design

A New Community Space on the Midtown Linear Park

The County seeks to create a safe, accessible, attractive, and fun place for the community in the outdoor space on the Midtown Linear Park between Cornell and Downs Streets. This project incorporates a 10-month public engagement and planning process to develop a community-driven design for this space. The process will provide residents, business owners, and community organizations with opportunities to shape the vision for a vibrant, inclusive public space that serves the needs of all who live, work, and visit Midtown.

Take the Pre-Design Survey! You can also click on the yellow button at the bottom of this page to take the survey.

What is Midtown Linear Park?

Midtown Linear Park (MLP) is a shared-use path owned by Ulster County and part of the Kingston Greenline—a growing network of rail trails, complete streets, and multi-use paths. This 12-foot-wide paved trail follows the former Ulster & Delaware (U&D) railroad corridor, spanning approximately 0.8 miles from Cornell Street to Westbrook Lane. The trail provides critical pedestrian and bike access through Midtown, linking residential areas to local businesses and essential services, including Kingston Plaza—the location of the City’s only major supermarket.

At the heart of MLP is a half-acre site between Cornell Street and Downs Street, a reclaimed former railyard that tapers from 65 feet wide to 30 feet. Envisioned as a community park during the initial planning for the rail trail, this space presents an opportunity to create a safe, accessible, and inviting public gathering space. Ulster County is leading this effort to transform the site into a welcoming destination for all ages, backgrounds, and abilities, offering both passive and active recreation in a thoughtfully designed setting.

Ways to Engage

The success of this project depends on community voices and participation! Over the next several months, we will be hosting several public engagement events to gather input, share progress, and shape the future of the Community Space at Midtown Linear Park. These events will include pop-up engagements, interactive workshops, and design feedback sessions, giving community members multiple opportunities to share their ideas, concerns, and aspirations for the space.

Whether you live nearby, own a business in Midtown, or regularly use the Kingston Greenline, we encourage you to get involved. Your input will help guide the design of a park that reflects the identity, needs, and spirit of the community — a place for gathering, play, relaxation, and connection.

The timeline below provides an overview of when the community engagement events are planned to occur. Specific dates and locations will be posted on this website and flyers at midtown shops for upcoming events.

Stay tuned for event announcements and ways to participate in shaping this exciting new public space!