Transformation Of Nissequogue River State Park Has Begun With York Hall Roof Rebuild

By Stacey Altherr

Work on York Hall, one of the many buildings in the Nissequogue River State Park slated for preservation, is now underway, giving a hopeful glimpse as to what is to come for the former psychiatric hospital grounds.

After years of neglect, vandalism, and the theft of copper flashing, the building’s roof is now being replaced. The new roof will protect the interior of the once-glamorous building, a one-story building with soaring ceilings and ornate balcony seating.

The repair to the roof is being funded by the Nissequogue River State Park Foundation and the Charles and Helen Reichert Family Foundation for a cost of about $550,000. It is to be completed by the end of April.photo courtesy of Dorothy Chanin

York Hall was one of the more significant buildings that appears to be salvageable in the restoration and re-use of the state-run state park. During the days of the psychiatric hospital, both staff and patients used the auditorium for plays and musical theater. It was used also as a community space, with organizations such as the boy scouts and local churches using the property as well, said John McQuaid, president of the Nissequogue River State Park Foundation. NRSPF was established in 2008 with the goal of uniting local community groups to renovate the park grounds and buildings. 

Once finished, the community will be able to use York Hall once again as a local public indoor theater for music concerts, plays and other community activities. 

photo courtesy of Dorothy Chanin“Everyone is excited,” McQuaid said. “This is a really significant step forward, to see that property turned into a legitimate park.”

The next step will be to hire engineers to put together a scope of the work needed and specific costs to refurbish the inside and bring it up to code, McQuaid added.

Many local civic groups and community members asked for York Hall to be saved rather than razed, including the Society for Preservation of Long Island Antiquities, which placed York Hall on its 2017 list of Endangered Historic Places.

The 522-acre property, which sits on the Nissequogue River, was legislated as parkland by the state in 2001. 

The New York State Office of Parks held public hearings on how to best use this bucolic land that will protect its fragile environmental nature and be a community resource. Next up is the completion of the master plan, due by the end of this year.

“We are very pleased with the rate of progress of the master plan,” McQuaid said. “They have done a tremendous job taking feedback from all the constituents in the community.”