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Towards the end of the 19th
century it became apparent that city asylums where failing and were in
need of relief and reform. Many of these institutions where used to house
the mentally ill just to alleviate them in society. But with radical new
theories approaching on how to care for the mentally ill, this would soon
all change. The origin behind this philosophy illustrates change and can
be best portrayed as O&O and R&R (Occupation & Oxygen and Rest &
Recreation).
In 1885 the city of Brooklyn established the first farm
colony in a quiet farming community located on the North Shore of Long
Island. The
Kings County Farm consisted of more than 800 acres to care for the poor
and the mentally ill. The farm colony originally opened with 55 patients,
but
as buildings increased so
did the clientele. Soon the same problems arose at Kings Park that was
plaguing the city asylums such as overcrowding and the patients care.
However in 1895 angry protests by the public and medical staff lead to the
state taking over both Long Island Farm Colonies. The farm colony became
part of the Long Island State Hospital up until the 1900’s when it was
made into a separate hospital which became known as Kings Park State
Hospital.
During the 1900’s the
patient population had skyrocketed to 2,697 patients along with a nursing
staff of 454 people. Furthermore as time went on Kings Park grew to
establish more than 150 buildings which included a bakery, laundromat,
amusement hall, bandstand, library, furniture repair shop, and even a
nursing school. This made the Psychiatric center self-sufficient and
therefore not very dependent on the rest of Long Island.
In 1954 Kings Park
Psychiatric Center accumulated over 9,300 patients but soon after began to
diminish. Drug therapy combined with the incentive to decentralize
psychiatric patients into community facilities and even offer outpatient
treatment, dramatically reduced the need for the large psychiatric
hospital. By the 1980’s
Kings Park Psychiatric Center was
a shell of its former self with many of it buildings becoming abandoned as
it downsized. In 1996 Kings Park Psychiatric Center closed its doors and
its remaining patients were transferred to Pilgrim State.
Today, the Kings Park
Psychiatric Center sits mostly vacant with just a few buildings operated
by Pilgrim State. It
is a barren wasteland with its buildings slowly being lost to time. The
state has tried many times to sell the property for redevelopment and/or
reused but because of the environmental cleanups prices and the community
opposition so far has been unsuccessful. This site is a very popular spot
for many people intrigued by its history to vandals. The photos in this
gallery are intended for educational and historical purposes only. The
creator of this site takes no responsibility for your actions if you break
the law, get injured or are incarcerated.
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