Discover the hidden beauty of Kings Park through this 13-page zine, featuring 14 black-and-white images by photographer Steve Borghardt.
Background info:
Kings Park Psychiatric Center opened in 1885 to help ease overcrowding in New York City’s mental hospitals. At its peak in the 1950s, it was home to around 9,300 patients and stretched across 873 acres, with more than 100 buildings on the property.
The hospital officially shut down in 1996. Today, only about 30 buildings are still standing. Many buildings have either collapsed or been demolished—often without proper decontamination—leaving large portions of the site unsuitable for redevelopment due to the presence of hazardous materials such as asbestos and toxic medical waste.
A cemetery also exists on the grounds, where hundreds of former patients are buried. Some graves are marked only with numbers, while most remain unmarked.
Experience the haunting beauty of Kings Park through imagery that invites you to pause and ponder the many stories of this place.
Discover the hidden beauty of Kings Park through this 13-page zine, featuring 14 black-and-white images by photographer Steve Borghardt.
Background info:
Kings Park Psychiatric Center opened in 1885 to help ease overcrowding in New York City’s mental hospitals. At its peak in the 1950s, it was home to around 9,300 patients and stretched across 873 acres, with more than 100 buildings on the property.
The hospital officially shut down in 1996. Today, only about 30 buildings are still standing. Many buildings have either collapsed or been demolished—often without proper decontamination—leaving large portions of the site unsuitable for redevelopment due to the presence of hazardous materials such as asbestos and toxic medical waste.
A cemetery also exists on the grounds, where hundreds of former patients are buried. Some graves are marked only with numbers, while most remain unmarked.
Experience the haunting beauty of Kings Park through imagery that invites you to pause and ponder the many stories of this place.