KINGSTON – It has been a tradition for 31 years in the southbound lane of lower Broadway in Kingston as the artists find creative ways to travel down the steep slope leading to the Rondout Creek.
The Kingston Artists Downhill Derby drew dozens of people Sunday to watch motion and creativity collide, spectators who would help chose the People’s Choice Award as judges chose 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners from individual, family and community organizations.
Community groups had entrants in the derby, as did individuals or families like those of John Haber, of Kingston, one of the first down the hill by piloting a trout to honor anglers in the region.
“We’re all big fishermen,” said Haber. “Love to go fishing hoping to catch that big rainbow trout one day. Since it hasn’t happened, we built one.”
Nancy Donskoj is a longtime volunteer, and she said the event, in the beginning, drew creative energy to help revive a once dormant city waterfront.
“Before the Rondout (waterfront) took off, like it is now, there were hardly any storefronts,” she said. “We had a gallery at the top of the hill, and we used the hill to our advantage and have art roll down the hill.”
Three decades later, the Rondout waterfront has been revived, and the event has survived to remind the community of his vibrant creativity.
“It’s the way families, community groups and individuals get together, express themselves and have a crowd cheering for them,” said Donskoj.
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