Nissequogue River State Park

Nissequogue River State Park is a 521-acre (2.11 km2) state park located on the banks and bluffs of the Nissequogue River in Kings Park, New York. The park was opened in 2000, and established on the waterfront portion of the former Kings Park Psychiatric Center.

Nissequogue River State Park
The mouth of the Nissequogue River
Location of Nissequogue River State Park within New York State
TypeState park
Location799 Saint Johnland Road
Kings Park, New York[1]
Nearest cityKings Park, New York
Coordinates40°53′52″N 73°13′53″W
Area521 acres (2.11 km2)[2]
Created2000 (2000)
Operated byNew York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
Visitors95,288 (in 2014)[3]
OpenAll year
WebsiteNissequogue River State Park

The name of the park was originally assigned to what is today the Caleb Smith State Park Preserve.[4]

History
The north entrance at St. Johnland Road and Kings Park Boulevard.

Nissequogue River State Park was first established in 2000 on a 153-acre (0.62 km2) portion of the former Kings Park Psychiatric Center property, which was closed in 1996. The remainder of the hospital's property remained available to development at that time.[5]

In 2007, an additional 368 acres (1.49 km2) of former hospital property were added to Nissequogue River State Park. At the time of the transfer, 90 acres (0.36 km2) of the property that included the hospital's former buildings remained to be cleaned up and redeveloped, however plans called for development to be consistent with the surrounding parkland.[6]

On May 17, 2010 New York State closed this park along with 55 other state parks due to budget cuts. However, the state reversed their decision on Nissequogue, and reopened the park on May 28, following passage of an $11 million deal in the state senate.[7]

Demolition of 18 former hospital buildings, as well as the hospital's large smokestack, took place in 2013.[8] A second round of demolitions was scheduled for 2016.[9]

Park description

Recreational opportunities at the park include soccer, bird watching, fishing, canoeing/kayaking, hiking, biking, and guided tours. The park also includes a marina with seasonal boat slips.[10]

A bird conservation area has been established at the park, with the primary purpose of protecting overwintering locations for waterfowl and migratory birds. The conservation area particularly aims to protect feeding and roosting habitat for wading birds such as egrets and herons.[11]

Several former Kings Park Psychiatric Center buildings remain standing in the park. Among those buildings that have been renovated is the former Veterans Administration Building (Building 125), which serves as the park office.

See also

References
  1. "Nissequogue River State Park - Getting There". NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
  2. "Section O: Environmental Conservation and Recreation, Table O-9". 2014 New York State Statistical Yearbook (PDF). The Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government. 2014. p. 673. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 16, 2015. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  3. "State Park Annual Attendance Figures by Facility: Beginning 2003". Data.ny.gov. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
  4. Hagstroms Atlas of Suffolk County, New York (1973)
  5. Winzelberg, David (April 23, 2000). "More Access to the Sound at Kings Park". The New York Times. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
  6. Cotsalas, Valerie (January 14, 2007). "Presto! This Land Is Parkland". The New York Times. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
  7. "Acting Commissioner Beers' Testimony Before Assembly Standing Committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development; Assembly Standing Committee on Oversight, Analysis and Investigation". NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation. December 13, 2010. Retrieved November 27, 2015.
  8. MacGowan, Carl (March 25, 2013). "Ex-Kings Park psych center smokestack set for demolition". Newsday. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
  9. Gralla, Joan (October 19, 2014). "Nissequogue River State Park improvement project to start next year". Newsday. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
  10. "Nissequogue River State Park". NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
  11. "Nissequogue River State Park Bird Conservation Areas". NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
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