Tee off at one of the city golf courses, join the crowd at a Lincoln Park soccer match, or read a book by the Hudson at Waryas Park. Stately beauty is complemented by an array of amenities and activities in Poughkeepsie's 18 parks. Two public swimming pools, tennis, basketball, baseball, fishing, golf, public boat launches, picnic areas, and our new skate park.
Relax and enjoy!

Step off the train in Poughkeepsie and walk the shore of the Hudson River at Waryas Park. Hike the winding trails of Springside Landscape Restoration, designed by A. J. Downing, the father of American landscape architecture. Ride or jog the bike path at Spratt Park. Poughkeepsie and the surrounding area offer miles of discovery on the..

Hudson River Valley Greenway
Appalachian Trail
Dutchess County Wine Trail

and countless other places in and around the City to drape yourself in American and natural history.

 

Located on the Hudson River, the Poughkeepsie shoreline stretches for nearly 2 miles, offering plenty of opportunity for water activities. Regattas, fishing, boating and kayaking are enjoyed by participants and spectators.
Take a walk along the Hudson and feel the effect it has on you. The City is expanding and improving its waterfront park system with a goal of linking the entire waterfront with a public walkway.

Breathe, Recharge

Community Event Spotlight:
Autumn in the Park
Bartlett Park
October 20, 2007

After the rainstorms of the previous day, Bartlett Park was fresh and beautiful. Hundreds of children and families enjoyed pony rides, the petting zoo, and the bouncing houses. Greg Goodall painted faces non-stop for hours. Shooting Star Express and Cuddles the Clown entranced the younger set. Early in the day we listened to Vincent Sauter and Friends sing folk music. Later on Bob Martinson’s music entertained us from the bandstand as did the conga line and dances he did with the kids. There was hay to jump on and a wigwam to pow-wow in as well as scare crow-making and other crafts. The nursery school from the Reformed Church sold hot dogs and chili, baked goods and drinks and even had a raffle. Of course there were races, and the children raced until nearly all had a medal. The Community police attended and the Fire Dept. brought our newest pumper for the taxpayers to see and the children to explore. The Parks and Recreation Dept. were at their best, putting on a smooth and perfectly organized festival that all attendees enjoyed.

THE CITY

|

BUSINESS

|

MOVING TO POUGHKEEPSIE

|

MEDIA

CALENDAR OF EVENTS THINGS TO DO FAQ COMMUNITY INITIATIVES CONTACT US

 

 

 

 

ACCESS AND MAPSTRAIN SCHEDULEGOVERNMENT SERVICES

The Poughkeepsie waterfront is quickly becoming a compatible blend of parks, open space, residential communities, destination retail, and restaurants. Work is commencing on The Southern Waterfront, a major public-private venture that will transform 25 vacant acres into a mix of public amenities and commercial development in a park-like setting. The first phase of the project, including The Grandview and Shadows on the Hudson, was completed in the Winter of 2006.

A public walkway along the river's edge is a goal that is well underway along the entire length of the City's riverfront. When completed, the walkway will stretch over 2 miles, connecting all of the waterfront City parks.

 

The Cottage Street Enterprise District (CSED), a 100 acre neighborhood on the north side of The City of Poughkeepsie, is being marketed to a blend of industrious entrepreneurs - artisans, creative services, and small shop production facilities. In a break from the old industrial model the CSED will be cleaner, quieter, and more creative. The City envisions the CSED as a place where newer technologies are at home alongside creative artisans and an existing industrial base - where like minded companies can build on synergies that benefit themselves and the surrounding community.

 

Main Street is undergoing a revival with over 300 new residential apartments online. With a variety of market rate and affordable units, Main Street is quickly becoming a vibrant mixed-use neighborhood.
Over 50 storefronts are benefiting from the City Facade Grants with beautiful results.
The Street offers many opportunities for retail and office space in recently renovated and architecturally restored buildings. Low and zero interest loans are available to new or expanding businesses through the City's Development Department.

Move to Main Street is the City's new initiative to encourage smart creative businesses to relocate here - close enough to do business in NYC, but just far enough to enjoy the home town flavor of Poughkeepsie and the beauty of the region.

Nestled on the Hudson River, just 70 miles north of midtown Manhattan, Poughkeepsie is the regional center of the arts, entertainment, higher education, healthcare, transportation, business, and government. Metro-North commuter trains run hourly to and from NYC Grand Central Station.

The rapid transformation of the City's Riverfront and our historic Main Street offer unparalleled value and opportunity in housing and business.

Our residential neighborhoods are examples of excellent design and community planning.

Visit us soon and see for yourself how
history, natural beauty, strategic location, and plenty of forward thinking people offer a balanced lifestyle and a sense of place.

Completed in early 2006, The Hamilton is a $13 million mixed-use development of 54 residential rental units and 6,600 SF of retail in downtown Poughkeepsie. The project's design reflects a late 19th century streetscape typical of Poughkeepsie's Main Street. The spacious apartments are priced affordably.

For rental information, please contact:
The Dagar Group Ltd.

Transformations

Luckey, Platt Building to be Redeveloped
Alma Realty Corporation's proposal was selected by the City as the preferred redevelopment plan for the vacant 150,000 SF department store.

In September 2005, Alma commenced a two year program that will result in 136 market rate rental apartments and 25,000 SF of retail at the
corner of Main Street and Academy Street, the heart of the downtown.

The neo-classical building, once a regional department store servicing surrounding counties, is considered the key to continued progress
along the Main Street Corridor. The revitalization momentum up and down Main Street is expected to fast forward once the Luckey Platt development is completed.

For rental information, please contact:

Retail - The Dagar Group Ltd.

The City of Poughkeepsie is the center of higher education in the Hudson Valley. 4 Colleges sit just outside the City bounds.

Marist
Vassar
Culinary Institute of America
Dutchess Community College

Combined they bring 17,000 students to Poughkeepsie each year.Whether you are just heading off to college, brushing up on professional skills, or completing a degree, the area colleges have something for virtually everybody.

 

Since 1843, the Poughkeepsie City School District has provided city residents with excellent educational opportunities. Today the district offers a comprehensive educational program designed to meet the needs of students and adults of diverse interests, abilities and backgrounds. Student enrollment is approximately 5,000.

The district is composed of three K-5 neighborhood elementary schools; Clinton School, Columbus School and Krieger School; three magnet schools, Morse Young Child Magnet School (K-2), Smith Humanities Magnet School (Gr. 3-5), and Warring Magnet Academy of Science/ Technology (K-5); Circle of Courage Learning Community (K-8), an alternative education school; Poughkeepsie Middle School for grades 6 to 8 and Poughkeepsie High School for grades 9 to 12.

 

In the City of Poughkeepsie, educational opportunities do not end at the sound of a school bell. Many local organizations offer youth programs tailored to meet a specific goal. Project ABLE, offered through Mill Street Loft, is an innovative year-round youth employment training program, Children's Media Project offers a wide range of workshops on digital film production and stop-motion animation techniques, and The Mid-Hudson Children's Museum blends science and art into a unique learning experience.

City of Schools

In 1782, Governor George Clinton, in a speech to the Senate and Assembly, said:

"It is the peculiar duty of the government of a free State, where the highest employments are open to citizens of every rank, to endeavor by the establishment of schools and seminaries to diffuse that degree of literature which is necessary to the due discharge of public trust."

That statement helped form the groundwork for public education in America. From pre-school programs to nationally recognized institutions
of higher learning, The City of Poughkeepsie is synonymous with educational opportunity.

read more about Gov. Clinton online

The Barrett Clay Works and Art Studios,located at 485 Main Street, is a unique gallery and studio arts facililty. This beautifully restored building is an anchor and a community center, with street level gallery space and instruction in various methods of "working clay" for all ages. The upper floors feature a range of rentable studio space that provide 24/7 access to the facility for visual artists and entrepreneurs. The last Saturday of each month is Family Clay Day. From 10am-1pm, Clay Works opens the studio space to parents and children. Studio staff is on hand to assist in all aspects of working clay.

Barrett Clay Works
(845) 471-2550
www.barrettartcenter.org

 

 

 

Pablo Picasso once said, "All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up." Poughkeepsie is home to many great art's organizations that offer various programs tailored to further a child's appreciation of the arts.

• Barrett Art Center
  
• Mill Street Loft
  
• Children's Media Project
  
• The Mid-Hudson Children's Museum
  

Poughkeepsie and the surrounding areas are teeming with historic people, places, and events. Franklin D. Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt, Samuel B. Morse, George Clinton, and Alexander Hamilton all had homes in or around the City. From the steps of the City Courthouse it was announced that New York would be the 11th state to ratify the Federal Constitution. Smith Brother Cough Drops where invented in the kitchen on Market Street and produced in the City until 1972. For more information on the history of this area, please contact the Dutchess County Historical Society.

 

The City posses a rich historic fabric, which is invaluable to revitalization. A majority of the commercial facades were built during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, rich with details and scaled for pedestrians. Main Street offers excellent examples of Art Deco, Italianate, Greek Revival, Romanesque Revival, and Neo-Classical design. Over 80 City homes and districts are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

 

Many local organizations offer tours of historic places in and around the City. Please visit the following websites for more information.

Dutchess County Tourism
Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site
Franklin D. Roosevelt Home National Historic Site
Hudson River Heritage
West Point
Locust Grove

 

There is plenty going on in and around Poughkeepsie. May begins the spring concerts in the city’s numerous parks with community festivals, music, arts and crafts and children’s activities. Tempt your taste buds with a gyro from the Greek Festival at the Hellenic Center Enjoy the hot air balloons rising above the bridge during the Poughkeepsie Area Chamber of Commerce Balloon Festival.

 

The shore of the Hudson River is bustling during the Hudson River Arts Festival held in September. Bring your skate board for fun at the Poughkeepsie Skate Park. Climb aboard the Clearwater Sloop for an “Autumn Weekend”. Cheer on the Marist Red Foxes at Tenney Stadium. Rappel the neighboring cliffs of “The Gunks” while enjoying the fall colors. The Poughkeepsie Farmers’ Market continues from June thru October so stop by for fresh seasonal vegetables, fruit, cider and baked goods

 

Listen to the crunch of the snow beneath your cross country skis and you navigate the winter hillside of the city’s numerous parks on a cold winter’s day. Join fellow fishermen as they ice fish on the City’s Morgan Lake. Parade down Main Street, during the annual Festival of Lights, watch the lighting of holiday trees and enjoy the thousands of lights throughout the City.

 

back to top

John C. Tkazyik
Mayor

Website developed by
Wallace IT Services