Senator Flanagan Announces Reappropriation Of Funding For Nissequogue River State Park In Cuomo's Budget

Senator John Flanagan (2nd Senate District) announced that over $22.5 million in funding he secured in 2006 for the environmental cleanup of the Nissequogue River State Park has been reappropriated in Governor Andrew Cuomo’s proposed budget.  The funding was requested by Senator Flanagan in a recent letter to Governor Cuomo and announced as part of the Executive Budget unveiled on January 17th.

A total of $29 million has been secured by Senator Flanagan for Nisseqougue River State Park.  The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) has already spent $4 million of those funds on an environmental engineering study and has set aside additional funds related to an upcoming demolition project at the site.

Approximately $15 million of the remaining funds will be utilized by the state towards a demolition and restoration project scheduled to begin in the spring of this year.  The OPRHP recently began to accept competitive bids from private construction companies to demolish up to 15 abandoned buildings and related structures on the expanded Nissequogue River State Park.

After bids are received, OPRHP expects to complete selection of a construction firm and execute a formal demolition contract agreement by March of this year.  Demolition work is expected to begin in May with completion of the project, including site restoration after the buildings have been removed, expected to take more than a year.

This latest step forward, combined with the reapportionment of funding, represents the most substantial movement on this property since the remainder of the former Kings Park Psychiatric Center was transferred into the parks system in 2006 to protect the quality of life for the residents of Kings Park.

Senator Flanagan expressed his appreciation for including this funding in the budget proposal:  “The future of this property is extremely important to the people who live in Kings Park and the funding is an essential component to planning that future.  By renewing this money in his budget, Governor Cuomo has demonstrated a strong commitment to this property and has recognized the important significance it holds for people in this area.  I am grateful for his support."