Halloween Measures Taken At Former Kings Park Psychiatric Center

KINGS PARK, NY — Travel restrictions on Kings Park Boulevard and park roads will be in effect within Nissequogue River State Park again in 2020 during Halloween week, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation announced. The restrictions and increased patrols are meant to prevent trespassing and criminal mischief at the former Kings Park Psychiatric Center.

The additional patrols and roadway restrictions to the property will be in place Friday through Monday. Patrolling officers will be from the New York State Park Police and New York State Park staff.

Only vehicles and people with appropriate reason will be allowed to travel the roads or walk within the park during Halloween season. The restrictions will be enforced to prevent vandalism and criminal mischief, as well as keep residents safe due to the "potentially hazardous" site.

Following Monday, police and staff will continue regular patrols and monitoring of the grounds and buildings.

The former Kings Park Psychiatric Center buildings pose numerous potential hazards to trespassers, including:

• Unstable walls and roofs which are at risk of collapse
• Hazardous and cancer-causing substances in the air, including asbestos, lead and polychlorinated biphenyls, or highly-toxic industrial compounds
• Poison ivy plants surrounding the buildings and potentially dangerous or diseased animals inside the buildings
• Exposed broken glass and sharp-edged metal
• Criminal activity