Paving of Kings Park Hike & Bike Trail Extension Moves Forward

The Kings Park Hike & Bike extension should be getting the gift of new concrete this year as work to pave the extension to Main Street moves forward. 

David Flynn, Smithtown's assistant planning director, said depending on the weather, five inches of concrete could be laid down later this month to extend the existing 1.5-mile bike trail, Newsday reports. 

The Kings Park Hike & Bike trail extension will add approximately 975 feet to the trail, connecting from the southwest portion down to Kings Park Main Street. 

They’ve been working on it every day,” said Flynn, of Kings Park, told Newday. “The tricky part is whether they’ll be able to pave the extended trail before the ground freezes.”

The paving will take place as Smithtown Parks Department has finished planting 64 trees and shrubs donated by the Nissequogue River State Park Foundation in early November. 

John McQuaid, chairman of the Nissequogue River State Park Foundation, said the nonprofit organization stepped forward offering to donate up to $8,500 towards the trail's extension after the initial contractor bids submitted to the Town of Smithtown came in over the project's allotted budget.

Funding for the extension has come from several sources including a Downtown Revitalization Grant for $17,000 obtained with help of Legis. Lynne Nowick, R- St. James, in 2009 and a $2,500 from the Nissequogue River State Park Foundation. Town of Smithtown will cover the remaining costs. 

The Kings Park Hike and Bike Trail was created with help of a "Rails to Trails" federal grant in 2004. The trail currently begins on Old Dock Road, approximately 300 feet east of Church Street, and runs along the former Kings Park State Hospital old railroad spur. The paved trail is used by walkers, joggers, bicyclists and by cross country skiers during winter months.