Haverstraw, NY – The Village of Haverstraw has officially launched a transformative branding, marketing, and wayfinding signage initiative as part of its broader strategy to revitalize the downtown district and boost tourism. A survey is now available for public input, in both English and Spanish.
As one of the Mid-Hudson winners of New York State’s $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), Haverstraw has been carefully investing in initiatives that not only refresh its visual identity but also foster long-term economic growth. For example, streetscaping has been conducted in the main retail district, part of the Village’s efforts to shore up critical infrastructure over the past several years.
“This project is about telling our story in a way that invites people in,” remarked Village Mayor Michael Kohut. “We aim to celebrate what makes Haverstraw special—from our historic downtown and waterfront to our vibrant cultural scene—and ensure that both residents and visitors can navigate and enjoy all that we have to offer.”
The comprehensive branding project will include the creation of a new village logo, tagline, and user-friendly signage to help both residents and visitors navigate key destinations such as the waterfront, ferry landing, and historic downtown.
The branding process, which kicked off with a collaborative contract signing earlier this spring, has been designed to engage the community at every step. The milestone effort is being led in partnership with Destination by Design (DbD), a nationally recognized planning and branding firm selected for its creative, community-driven approach. DbD has already conducted exploratory visits, evaluating critical signage points and engaging with community leaders, including gathering feedback from a predominantly Spanish-speaking population – which encompasses over 50% of the village, according to statistics recently provided at an Envision Rockland meeting.
Survey Now Available For Public Input
Community participation is central to the project’s success. Residents and business owners are invited to provide their input through a bilingual survey available at whoishaverstraw.com, as well as at in-person workshops and drop-in sessions.
Magda Truchan, a key advocate behind the project and local arts leader, was on the Rockland News podcast this morning, and emphasized the importance of community voice in the process. “This is a one-shot deal to get this right. Who knows when we’ll have the opportunity to rebrand again? The time is now for residents to make their mark on the Village’s future.”
The most recent in-person workshop was held on April 29th and attended by a variety of local stakeholders, including Truchan and Andrea Caccuro, board members of Haverstraw Riverwide Arts, who have hosted for years on all aspects of the annual Haverstraw Crawl Eats & Beats, which recently celebrated its 10th-anniversary event with thousands of people pouring into the Village in 2024.
Truchan also highlighted that the initiative complements other DRI-funded projects, including new murals celebrating the Village’s diverse heritage, the expansion of the Haverstraw Brick Museum, affordable housing developments, and improved public spaces.
Survey Results Close Soon, New Branding Launching in Autumn 2025
In addition to wayfinding signage, the branding initiative will produce promotional tools and social media strategies to attract visitors and investors to Haverstraw, positioning it as a Hudson River destination rich in history, culture, and charm.
With the Village’s identity refresh set for unveiling in the fall, residents can look forward to a more cohesive and inviting downtown experience that reflects Haverstraw’s past, present, and future.
HI Tom, I read your survey article. Thanks for that. Could you make a couple of changes? There are some inaccuracies. Towards the bottom where you mention Andrea Caccuro, please replace with: “” Also the BRIC museum, the paragraph right below should be spelled BRICK. Thanks Tom
For more details and to take the survey, visit whoishaverstraw.com.