Nissequogue River State Park - A Site For The Future

By Pat Biancaniello

Heavy equipment, yellow tape, fencing and piles of debris are an indication that something is happening at the Nissequogue River State Park (NRSP).  “The scheduled demolition of structures has begun and is going well.  National Salvage & Service Corporation has been very responsible in the way they are handling the demolition.” Stated NRSP Director, Sean Cruickshank.

Sean explained that the demolition is going smoothly but there is a lot of work to do.  In addition to the demolition, some of the buildings contain asbestos, which needs to be removed prior to the building being demolished.  The smoke Stack, the train columns, fuel tanks and underground tunnels all present different challenges. 

For the most part the structures being removed were condemned by the state due to their deteriorated condition.  Many have roofs that have been collapsed for several years and in some cases a decade.  Building 122, built in the early 1900’s, is a multilevel building with damage at all levels creating an unstable and dangerous environment. Building 123, which housed a kitchen and dining area, has its entrance blocked by the collapse of the roof and part of the structure itself. 

The $6.4 million dollar project is being funded with a $25 million dollar appropriation secured by Senator John Flanagan in 2006.  Senator Flanagan stated on April 13, 2006 – “Open space preservation is vital to our entire region and this funding will allow more of our land to be left for parkland and community use.  This is a great win for the Kings Park community, a great win for the Town of Smithtown and a great day for the State of New York…Due to the efforts of the community, the future of this site will be the future that the people of Kings Park and Long Island deserve.”

If there is one message that Sean wants people to know it is that the area is a work site. “At the beginning of the demolition people showed up to see what was happening. That has slowed down some, which is a good thing when there is so much happening.  People need to be aware that the site, even though it is fenced and there are barriers and warnings, is a construction site and that alone can be dangerous.” Said Sean.

It is almost unanimous that the demolition is going to vastly improve the NRSP. But not everyone is sure.  Native born Kings Park resident, Larry Flynn, is not very happy with the proposed demolition of the boathouse.  “That building holds Kings Park’s history of boating.  We have the funding to save the boathouse and have it moved.  We just can’t get anyone at the state to listen to us.”  The boathouse is scheduled to be removed as part of the demolition and may have some structural problems.  According to Sean, “the boathouse is not as structurally sound as some may think.  The selection of the structures for demolition was done with consideration to the viability of the buildings as well as the vision for the park’s future.” For now, the boathouse is sitting where it has sat for the past hundred years, overlooking the marina.