Nissequogue River State Park

Nissequogue River State Park

The mouth of the Nissequogue River

Location of Nissequogue River State Park within New York State

Type State park
Location 799 Saint Johnland Road
Kings Park, New York[1]
Nearest city Kings Park, New York
Coordinates 40°53′52″N 73°13′53″W / 40.8977°N 73.2315°W / 40.8977; -73.2315Coordinates: 40°53′52″N 73°13′53″W / 40.8977°N 73.2315°W / 40.8977; -73.2315
Area 521 acres (2.11 km2)
Created 1999 (1999)
Operated by New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
Visitors 95,288 (in 2014)[2]
Open All year
Website 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 conceived in 1999, and established on the waterfront portion of the former Kings Park Psychiatric Center.

The name of the park was originally assigned to what is today the Caleb Smith State Park Preserve.[3]

History

Nissequogue River State Park was first established in 1999 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.[4]

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.[5]

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.[6]

Demolition of 18 former hospital buildings, as well as the hospital's large smokestack, took place in 2013.[7] A second round of demolitions is scheduled for 2016.[8]

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.[9]

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.[10]

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

External links

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