Key Ideas for Rosendale

Rosendale residents envision a future where the town becomes more walkable, inclusive, and connected—while staying deeply rooted in its small-town character and sense of belonging. There is strong urgency around affordable housing, safer streets, and accessibility for all, alongside a desire for vibrant local businesses, arts, and year-round community gathering spaces. Residents want to better support seniors, young families, and working people, strengthen local participation and volunteerism, and ensure that growth does not tip toward a tourism-driven, unaffordable, or disconnected community. At its core, the vision is for Rosendale to evolve thoughtfully—protecting its environment, honoring its history, and fostering a culture where people actively care for and show up for one another.

Traffic, Safety & Streets

  • Lower and enforce speed limits (Main St, Route 32, 213); address dangerous driving and truck traffic
  • Add speed bumps, signage, crosswalks, and safer intersections
  • Improve sidewalks (ADA-accessible), snow/ice removal, road conditions, lighting
  • Address parking challenges (availability, design, flow, aesthetics)
  • Reimagine street design to prioritize pedestrians over cars

Walkability, Accessibility & Mobility

  • Improve walkability for all, including people using mobility aids (rollators, trikes, wheelchairs)
  • Expand bike lanes, trails, and safer shoulders
  • Connect rail trails, canal paths, and hamlets (Rosendale–High Falls–Tillson)
  • Create off-road walking/biking routes and creekside paths
  • Expand public transit, shuttle systems, and access without a car

Housing, Affordability & Economic Pressure

  • Urgent need for affordable housing across income levels
  • Prevent displacement from rising rents, second homes, and short-term rentals
  • Support young people, families, workers, and seniors to stay
  • Encourage diverse housing types (ADUs, multifamily, modular)
  • Recognize broader pressures: cost of living, wages, and economic strain on residents

Local Economy & Main Street Vitality

  • Fill vacant storefronts and stabilize business turnover
  • Support locally owned, year-round, affordable businesses (not just visitor-focused)
  • Balance tourism and local needs—avoid becoming a “weekender economy”
  • Improve key areas like Fann’s Plaza and Route 32 gateway
  • Expand hours, diversity, and affordability of offerings

Arts, Culture & Events

  • Increase live music, performances, festivals, and creative programming
  • Bring back beloved events (e.g., Frozendale, Pickle Festival)
  • Create inclusive, family-friendly, intergenerational events (not just alcohol-centered)
  • Develop arts venues, maker spaces, and community creativity hubs
  • Strengthen connection to Rosendale’s history and identity

Community Connection, Inclusion & Belonging

  • Strengthen sense of community vs. “us vs. them” divide (locals vs. newcomers/weekenders)
  • Increase outreach to underserved groups:
    • Seniors (especially homebound)
    • Young adults (20–40)
    • Families with children
    • People facing financial, physical, or emotional challenges
  • Foster mutual aid, kindness, and neighbor-to-neighbor support
  • Encourage intergenerational interaction and participation
  • Improve communication about events, services, and opportunities

Youth, Families & Recreation

  • Expand activities, spaces, and programs for kids and teens
  • Address lack of opportunities for young adults and families
  • Improve playgrounds, rec center, and indoor spaces
  • Add sports leagues, arts education, and social spaces
  • Support youth employment and pathways to stay in town

Public Spaces, Gathering Places & Amenities

  • Create more “third places”:
    • Year-round community gathering spaces (piazza/salon feel)
    • Indoor and outdoor hangout spaces
  • Better utilize existing assets:
    • Willow Kiln Park, Rec Center, waterfront, canal/berm
  • Add/improve:
    • Dog parks, community gardens, swimming access
    • Trash cans, water fountains, seating, beautification
  • Improve access to water (creeks, lakes) while balancing safety and property concerns

Environment, Sustainability & Stewardship

  • Protect water systems, wetlands, forests, and open space
  • Address climate change, pollution, and waste
  • Expand composting, renewable energy, and sustainable infrastructure
  • Balance development with environmental limits (water supply, ecosystems)
  • Increase community awareness and political will around climate action

Civic Systems, Services & Communication

  • Expand and reimagine the library as a central community hub
  • Improve communication, transparency, and engagement from town government
  • Address underutilized community assets (community center, parks)
  • Strengthen coordination between organizations and commissions
  • Improve access to services (healthcare, food, transit, information)

Workforce, Volunteers & Local Participation

  • Address decline in volunteerism (fire dept, EMS, civic roles)
  • Recognize barrier: people work outside town due to cost of living
  • Support local jobs and economic opportunities
  • Encourage community involvement and shared responsibility

Growth, Development & Community Balance

  • Strong desire to avoid overdevelopment and over-commercialization
  • Maintain small-town identity, pedestrian scale, and “village feel”
  • Ensure growth is:
    • Sustainable
    • Community-centered
    • Inclusive of both longtime residents and newcomers
  • Avoid becoming:
    • A tourist commodity
    • A bedroom community or “suburb of Brooklyn”

Overall Values & Tensions

  • Deep love for Rosendale, paired with real concern about its future
  • Key tensions:
    • Growth vs. preservation
    • Tourism vs. local life
    • Newcomers vs. longtime residents
    • Economic vitality vs. affordability
  • Shared desire for:
    • Kindness, connection, and mutual care
    • A town where people know each other and participate