Travel Restrictions In Place At Nissequogue River State Park

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

Starting Wednesday, additional patrols and roadway restrictions to the property will begin. More patrols, conducted by the New York State Park Police and New York State Park staff, will be in effect until Nov. 3. Only vehicles and people with appropriate reason will be allowed to travel the roadway or walk within the Park during this time.

The restriction will be enforced to prevent acts of vandalism and criminal mischief, and to
prohibit access to a site potentially hazardous to health and safety. After Nov. 3, the New York State Park Police and State Park 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 PCBs.
• Poison ivy plants surrounding the buildings and potentially dangerous or diseased animals inside the buildings.
• Exposed broken glass and sharp-edged metal.
• Criminal activity.