State: Stepped up patrols on Halloween weekend at former Kings Park Psychiatric Center

There will be increased patrols and travel restrictions on the grounds of the former Kings Park Psychiatric Center through the Halloween weekend, state officials said Tuesday.

The 500-acre site overlooking Long Island Sound sometimes draws the curious who have heard stories about the ghosts of former patients haunting the grounds, officials have said in the past. They have said that vandalism and trespassing spike around Halloween.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation said the security measures will be begin Friday, run through Sunday and will be handled by agency staff and the New York State Park Police.

Only vehicles with good reason will be authorized to travel on Kings Park Boulevard on those days, the agency said.

"The restriction will be enforced to prevent access to a site potentially hazardous to individuals' health and safety," the agency said in a news release.