Healing Garden a 'Fitting Tribute' at State Park on Former Psych Grounds

Kings Park community leaders gathers at Nissequogue River State Park to dedicate a garden in tribute to its past, and hopefully one step towards a brighter future. 

The Nissequogue River State Park Foundation and Commack-Kings Park Rotary club publically unveiled a new healing garden along the bluffs of the Nissequogue River State Park at sunset on Wednesday to supports and local residents. 

"How fitting is it on this piece of  property that healed tens of thousands of people over the hundred years it operated as a hospital now to have this healing garden at such a beautiful location," said John McQuaid, chairman of the Nissequogue River State Park Foundation. 

Eric Hagenbruch, owner of Finesse Design, put the finishing touches on the 35-foot by 35-foot garden that blends together native plants, Large rocks and a crushed rock walking path on Tuesday. Hagenbruch estimates in total he dedicated 235 hours to the project, slowly bringing equipment and plants uphill. 

He said the garden contains plants such as mountain mint and echinacea, both commonly used for medicinal purposes. 

Both the foundation and rotary club also thanked the Reichert’s family, owner of two IGA supermarkets in East Northport and Fort Salonga, for generous financial donations to help complete the garden. 

The foundation and rotary club raised $25,000 in cash and donations of services in order to fund the creation of the healing garden. 

"The foundation has been working for many many years to have some improvements made to Nissequogue River State Park and we think this is a tangible sign of that," said Brian Foley, deputy regional director of New York State Parks. "It’s a sign of better things to come as we move forward."