ALBANY – Harambee Kingston and Scenic Hudson’s Northside Hub in Poughkeepsie have received Historic Preservation awards from the State Parks Department.

Harambee has led the preservation and revitalization of the Pine Street African Burial Ground since acquiring it in 2019.

The burial site was established in 1750 for Kingston’s enslaved people and their descendants.

Harambee Kingston protected, interpreted and revitalized the long-forgotten site.

The organization created a cultural center and museum, partnered with SUNY New Paltz Archaeological Field School to document and protect the burial ground leading to the site’s listing in the State and National Registers of Historic Places.

Scenic Hudson’s Northside Hub transformed an abandoned industrial site at 58 Park Avenue in the City of Poughkeepsie’s Northside through a five-year adaptive reuse and brownfield cleanup project by restoring historic buildings, remediating contaminated soil and groundwater, and creating a vibrant, sustainable community space.

The rehab preserved the National Register-listed Standard Gage Factory while integrating net-zero energy features including solar power, green roofs, and advanced ventilation.

It connects residents to the Hudson River and supports recreation, education, and gathering.