By Erica Jackson
Architect Mark Mancini with Hike and Bike rendering (photo F. Mercuri)An abandoned rail spur that once carried coal and supplies to the long shutdown Kings Park Psychiatric Center will soon be transformed into a hike and bike trail for the community. Recently, the Kings Park Civic Association was granted $17,500 in funding from Suffolk County to improve the spur as an economic development project.According to Sean Lehmann, president of the Kings Park Civic Association, the funds came in the form of a ten percent matching grant with the Nissequogue River State Park Foundation providing the matching $2,500.
The trail, said Lehmann will begin at the Kings Park municipal parking lot and run along the spur, connecting to an existing trail that ends at the Nissequogue River State Park. “We are hoping the trail will connect the park to the business area and more residents will use it,” said Lehmann.
Most importantly, Lehmann says it is hoped that the trail will drum up business for the Kings Park business district by motivating community members to grab a bite to eat at one of Kings Park’s local eateries and then meander through the new trail or visa versa.
Mike Rosato, head of the Nissequogue River State Park Foundation, agreed: “The importance of this hike and bike trail is that it will help benefit the downtown district. It will connect the two most important assets of the Kings Park Community — the Nissequogue River State Park and downtown.”
John Kowalchyk addresses NRSP Foundation (photo F. Mercuri)
John Kowalchyk addresses NRSP Foundation (photo F. Mercuri)Aside from the possible economic benefits to downtown businesses, Legislator Lynne Nowick, who helped procure the funding said, “With so many people trying to be more active by walking and bicycling to improve their health, having an expanded Hike and Bike trail will offer more opportunities for people of all ages to enjoy some fantastic scenery and pastoral settings. By bringing more people to the trail, we can encourage more people to visit the Nissequogue State Park and spend time outdoors exercising and experiencing the natural beauty of this area.”
With the money in hand, Lehmann said architectural plans for the trail are already in the works. Smithtown architect Mark Mancini volunteered to draw up some renderings for the trail. His vision for the trail includes an archway that will welcome community members to the trail. “I want to give it a grand appearance,” said Mancini. The trail will also feature benches and historical signs that will be donated by the Kings Park Chamber of Commerce.
The construction of the trail, including the clearing of debris and the addition of buffers that will separate nearby residences from the trail is expected to be performed by Town of Smithtown employees. The town, says Lehmann, has been charged with overseeing the disbursement of the grant funding.
Work cannot start; however, said Lehmann until the State of New York, which has ownership of the old rail spur, grants an easement to the Town of Smithtown for the path. That easement is expected to be approved in the near future, said Lehmann.
It is hoped that the trail will be ready for use by community members by next summer or spring.
Once complete, Rosato said his organization will begin working on the next leg of the trail, which he intends to run the entire perimeter of the Nissequogue River State Park. That project, however, he said won’t be coming to fruition any time soon. Rosato says it will depend on the completion of a Master Plan for the Nissequogue River State park, which has been put on hold by the state pending budgetary issues.