Psych Center Smokestack To Be Demolished Wednesday

One of the tallest and most iconic structures in the decaying Kings Park Psychiatric Center will be forever destroyed on Wednesday when contractors implode the facility's former smokestack.

The event, which will be open to spectators, is expected to restrict travel in the area.

According to the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, which is managing the demolitions of many of the buildings on the grounds, several roads in the area will close at 10 a.m. and reopen at 4 p.m. They include, Old Dock Road from St. Johnland Road to Flynn Road, sections of Kings Park Boulevard and the hiking trail from Flynn Road to the Tiffany Field soccer field.

Workers plan to fence off the smokestack at 1,000 feet in every direction before detonating the structure at 2 p.m.

In June 2012, New York State Parks Director Ron Foley told Patch that dynamite would be used for the blast, which is expected to last about five seconds.

He also said special fencing will be set up around the smokestack to catch all debris and dust that might be generated by the demolition.

The smokestack implosion is part of a multimillion project to abate and demolish 19 buildings on the grounds of what once of one the biggest psychiatric hospitals in the state.

Do you plan to attend the demolition? Will you be sad or glad to see it go?