Building 125 at the Nissequogue River State Park, formerly the site of the Kings Park Psychiatric Center (KPPC), has been renamed and dedicated as the Charles and Helen Reichert Administrative building. The building will function as a welcome center that showcases the heritage of the park as both a medical facility and a place of conservation.
Charles and Helen, as well as the whole Reichert family, donated generously to the construction of the welcome center.
At a ceremony held on June 23, a crowd of workers, contractors, architects, engineers, community members, and Nissequogue River Park Foundation members gathered to celebrate the opening of the building. The flag waved high, and the sun shone brightly over the attendees as they were getting ready to usher in a new chapter of the park’s history.
KPPC operated as the largest employer in Kings Park for over a century. As attitudes surrounding mental health treatment changed, however, the center’s population decreased from a patient census of over 9,000 to just dozens. By the 1990’s, the state had made plans to close the center in its entirety and the closure went into effect in 1996.
Building 125 is nearly 100 years old and was first dedicated in 1927.
“This is the start of what we hope will be an amazing renovation and transformation here,” said Regional Director from the New York State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation George Gorman. The Regional Director acted as the master of ceremonies for the event.
Also in attendance was the NYS Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid, who thanked the Reicherts for their massive contribution.
“Donors bring something to our parks that we can’t bring ourselves,” said Kulleseid. “They saw…an opportunity here that we couldn’t take on ourselves.”
State Senator Mario Mattera and Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick were also on hand for the ribbon-cutting and were thanked for their role in securing state money for the park.
“This is called progress,” noted Mattera. “I would like to thank all the construction workers doing a great job every time I came down.”
The Senator added that this wouldn’t be possible without the “hardworking men and women of labor.”
After Mattera concluded his remarks, he presented the Nissequogue River Park Foundation with a proclamation thanking them for their service to the community.
Fitzpatrick began by talking about the park’s “long history for the people of Kings Park.” The park was not only an anchor of the economy but an anchor for the whole community. He also shared an anecdote about the former hospital. His grandmother was a patient there in 1956 after she wandered away from her Astoria home.
After the ribbon-cutting, all the guests were invited inside to see the renovations. The entrance was constructed from restored wood. Immediately opposite the entrance is the welcome desk, also made with repurposed wood. The desk is meant to be period-accurate in homage to the hospital’s past.
The walls are decorated with photographs taken by the park’s photographer including landscapes, ospreys, and other wildlife. Visitors are also greeted with taxidermy exhibits, depicting animals in their natural habitat.
The lower level of the center also has a children’s room, community room, and a history room. The second level of the center has administrative offices for park employees.
There are other plans currently under discussion to expand activities to the park and renovate more buildings on the property. The Nissequogue River Park Foundation has been involved in discussions surrounding the development of the park.
