Nissequogue River State Park

Nissequogue River State Park is a NYS Parks park in Kings Park, NY, next to Sunken Meadow on the Nissequogue River, built on the grounds of the former Kings Park Psychiatric Center. Its grounds are open year round from sunrise to sunset at 799 Saint Johnland Road. Cars pay $8 in season, and there is no fee for the grounds south of Saint Johnland Road. It has a canoe and kayak launch with rentals, a marina, the Long Island Greenbelt Trail along the river bluffs and a State Bird Conservation Area.

What Is There

NYS Parks describes a park of tidal and freshwater wetlands and hardwood forest on the North Shore, home to shorebirds, reptiles and amphibians. Part of it is a designated State Bird Conservation Area. The Long Island Greenbelt Trail runs through it, parallel to the Nissequogue, with views of the river and Long Island Sound from the top of the bluffs. There is also a soccer field, a canoe and kayak launch, fishing, birdwatching, interpretive signs, guided and group tours by reservation, and a conference room for rent.

The Nissequogue River State Park Foundation, the park's friends group, puts its size at 522 acres.

Entrances and Fees

NYS Parks lists two entrances: the main entrance, and a grounds entrance that is the main way into the park's grounds. Access to the area south of Saint Johnland Road has no access fee.

2026 vehicle fee: $8 a car, $35 a bus, collected:

• May 23 to September 7: daily, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• September 8 to October 12: weekends and holidays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The $80 Empire Pass covers it. See hours and fees for how the pass works.

Paddling and the Marina

• Canoe and kayak rentals: call (631) 979-8244.
• Boat launching: April 21 to November 1, sunrise to sunset. NYS Parks warns that launching and returning depend on the tide.
• Seasonal boat slips: April 21 to November 1, $50 per foot. Recreational boats only, no personal watercraft, and the boat must be registered to the slip holder. The north marina is reached only by launch or dinghy; the south marina has a gangway. At low tide, boats can sit in the mud.

Paddlers based at Sunken Meadow launch from Field 3 instead. See kayaking.

Programs and Permits

Environmental programs cost $4 for everyone 3 and over; children 2 and under are free. NYS Parks runs seasonal events here, from pumpkin carving to toddler nature mornings. A model-airplane permit costs $40, and NYS Parks now directs model flyers from Sunken Meadow to this park.

The Psychiatric Center Buildings

The park sits on the former campus of the Kings Park Psychiatric Center, which closed in 1996. The waterfront part opened as Nissequogue River State Park in spring 2000, and more of the hospital grounds were added in 2006, according to the park foundation. Many old buildings still stand. Stay on open paths and out of closed structures; see the Kings Park Psychiatric Center page for the history.

Good For

• A quieter river walk than busy Sunken Meadow.
• Renting a kayak for the Nissequogue.
• Birding in the State Bird Conservation Area.
• Walking the Greenbelt south from Sunken Meadow, along the bluffs.

Maybe Skip If

• You want a swimming beach. There is none listed here; go to Sunken Meadow's beach.
• You want to go inside the old hospital buildings. Only two are in use; keep out of the rest.

Getting Involved

NYS Parks points volunteers to the park's friends group, the Nissequogue River State Park Foundation.