Kings Park Psychiatric Center

Kings Park Building 93

Building 93

Building 21

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Building 7

Building 15

Kings Park Psychiatric Center was a historic institution located in Kings Park, New York, on the North Shore of Long Island. It was originally established in 1885 as the Kings County Asylum, a farm colony for Brooklyn’s mentally ill, which was designed to provide a peaceful setting away from the urban environment. Over the years, the center expanded significantly, reflecting broader changes in psychiatric care and the treatment of mental health in the United States.

History

The inception of the Kings Park Psychiatric Center was part of the 19th-century movement towards building asylums for the mentally ill, with the aim of providing a more humane alternative to incarceration. The facility grew rapidly, and by the early 20th century, it had become a self-sufficient community with its own farms, power plant, and railroad. At its peak, the center housed over 9,000 patients and was one of the largest psychiatric institutions in the world.

The philosophy of treatment at Kings Park evolved over the years, reflecting the changing attitudes towards mental illness. In its early years, the focus was on outdoor work and recreation, believed to be therapeutic for patients. However, as the patient population grew, the center became overcrowded, and conditions worsened. During the mid-20th century, the introduction of psychotropic drugs led to significant changes in treatment methods, with a shift away from institutional care towards outpatient services and community integration.

Decline and Closure

The latter part of the 20th century saw a nationwide movement towards deinstitutionalization, driven by criticisms of the conditions within psychiatric hospitals and a growing emphasis on patients' rights. This, combined with advances in medication and therapy, led to a significant reduction in the patient population at Kings Park. The center officially closed in 1996, and many of its buildings were abandoned.

Aftermath and Preservation

Following its closure, the future of the Kings Park Psychiatric Center site became a subject of local debate. Some buildings have been demolished, while others have fallen into disrepair. Efforts have been made to repurpose the site, with proposals including parkland, housing, and commercial development. The site's historical significance has led to calls for preservation, particularly of the more architecturally notable buildings.

The story of Kings Park Psychiatric Center is reflective of the broader history of psychiatric care in the United States, from the era of large state-run asylums to the move towards community-based treatment. It remains a subject of interest for historians, urban explorers, and those advocating for mental health reform.