Sunken Meadow State Parkway

Sunken Meadow State Parkway
Map of Long Island with Sunken Meadow State Parkway highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by NYSDOT
Length:	6.19 mi (9.96 km) 1.11 mi (1.79 km) within park boundaries
Existed:	1954 – present
History:	Opened November 29, 1954 (to NY 25) April 1, 1957 (full length)
Restrictions:	No commercial vehicles south of NY 25A
Major junctions
South end:	Northern State Parkway / Sagtikos State Parkway in Commack
	NY 454 in Commack NY 25 in Commack NY 25A in Kings Park
North end:	Sunken Meadow State Park in Fort Salonga
Location
Counties:	Suffolk
Highway system
New York Highways Interstate U.S. State Reference Parkways

The Sunken Meadow State Parkway (also known as the Sunken Meadow) is a 6.19-mile (9.96 km) long parkway in Suffolk County, Long Island, New York. Located entirely within the town of Smithtown, the parkway begins at a cloverleaf interchange with the Northern State Parkway (exits 44–45) and the northern terminus of the Sagtikos State Parkway. The parkway, which continues north, is a northern spur of the Sagtikos, which opened in September 1952. The northern end of the parkway is at the toll barrier in exit SM5 in the Kings Park section of Smithtown. From there, the road continues north through Sunken Meadow State Park to a roundabout at the Long Island Sound. The parkway comprises the northern half of New York State Route 908K (NY 908K, an unsigned reference route), with the Sagtikos State Parkway forming the southern portion. Commercial vehicles are, like on most parkways, prohibited from using the Sunken Meadow, except for a portion north of NY 25A in Kings Park.

The parkway was first proposed in 1928 when the town of Smithtown deeded over 400 acres (160 ha) of land to the Long Island State Park Commission via public vote. Due to land use restrictions in Nassau County, Sunken Meadow was the first park east of New York City, because provisions for a parkway would be near impossible to build. Construction of the parkway commenced after the Sagtikos opened in September 1952, with the interchange at the Northern State Parkway. The first portion opened to traffic in November 1954 from the Northern State/Sagtikos to NY 25, with a slated completion in 1956. The parkway was completed in April 1957, opening on the 1st. As part of the parkway opening, improvements were made to Sunken Meadow State Park, including expanded vehicle capacity and a longer boardwalk. In 2001, the Sunken Meadow was proposed in a study to receive a widening, which would include new bus and carpool lanes.