NRSPF's Turkey Trot Takes You Past Historic "York Hall" Celebrating Its 90th Birthday

YORK HALL, aka Building 80 (built 1930-32) Kings Park State Hospital/Psychiatric Center

York Hall was constructed on the grounds of the former Kings Park Psychiatric Center (currently the Nissequogue River State Park) between 1930 and 1932.  According to Preservation Long Island, it was completed September 7, 1932, “Constructed at a time when over 90% of the Kings Park community lived or worked at the Psychiatric Center.” 2022 marks the 90th anniversary of the completion of construction on York Hall.

At its peak York Hall was used by patients for recreational activities, performances, and plays (theater and drama were viewed as both therapeutic and a means by which to keep patients active and socially engaged), town residents used the building for community meetings, holiday celebrations, dances, receptions, and other social activities.

York Hall also served as a civic center for the Kings Park community into the late 1990s.  New York State Office of Mental Health decommissioned the hospital and transferred the property to the State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation. The building sits at the entrance of the Nissequogue River State Park (NRSP) in Kings Park and has been vacant and deteriorating since 1996. It is also one of the buildings in the NRSP slated for preservation.

After years of neglect, vandalism, and the theft of copper flashing, the building’s roof has been replaced. The new roof will protect the interior of the once-glamorous one-story building with soaring ceilings and ornate balcony seating.The Nissequogue River State Park Foundation teamed up with the Charles and Helen Reichert Foundation and began the remediation of the grand building by funding a new roof at a cost of about $550,000. The roof remediation, completed this spring, will prevent further deterioration of the building’s interior. 

York Hall is a cornerstone for revitalization at NRSP. With imagination, elbow grease and funding the building will once again become a place for gathering, creativity and celebration.

Join the Nissequogue River State Park Foundation at its 15th Annual Turkey Trot/Kids Fun Run on Thursday, November 24th. Come out support the Nissequogue River State Park, the Foundation and give a nod to York Hall. Preserve KPPC will be available to answer questions.