SMITHTOWN LANDING AVENUE PARK
along Nissequogue River

Can reach this park from Old Dock Road above Nissequogue River State Park via canoe. Can be picked up here, or canoe back down river, going in and out with the tide.

History:

1688 -- Richard Smythe, founder of Smithtown, donated the land "for ye welfare and benefit of the inhabitants of Smithtown," thus it is one of the oldest public parks in the United States. Initially, the park served as a place to dry marsh grass for use as animal fodder and bedding.

1806 -- it was an active commercial wharf or landing. Flat bottom sailing ships docked here, but the serpentine nature of the river lead to the abandonment of this activity.

1920s-1940s -- bathing beach with a bath house, gazebo and diving board.

The Nissequogue River Valley was created 21,000 years ago. East of the park entrance is an esker, unique on Long Island.

PLANT LIST:
Dr. Patrick L. Cooney, August 21, 2001

Trees:
Acer platanoides (Norway maple)
Acer rubrum (red maple)
Acer saccharum (sugar maple)
Castanea dentata (American chestnut)
Juglans nigra (black walnut)
Morus alba (white mulberry)
Pinus strobus (white pine)
Prunus serotina (black cherry)
Quercus alba (white oak)
Quercus palustris (pin oak)
Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust)

Shrubs:
Epigaea repens (trailing arbutus)
Kalmia latifolia (mountain laurel)
Lonicera morrowii (Morrow's honeysuckle)
Myrica pensylvanica (bayberry)
Rosa multiflora (multiflora rose)
Rubus occidentalis (black raspberry)
Rubus phoenicolasius (wineberry)
Viburnum acerifolium (maple-leaf viburnum)

Vines:
Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper)
Toxicodendron radicans (poison ivy)

Herbs:
Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard)
Amaranthus cannabinus (salt marsh water hemp)
Ambrosia artemisiifolia (common ragweed) *
Ambrosia trifida (giant ragweed) *
Artemisia vulgaris (common mugwort)
Aster divaricatus (white wood aster) *
Chelidonium majus (celandine) *
Circaea lutetiana (enchanter's nightshade) *
Commelina communis (Asiatic dayflower) *
Conyza canadensis (horseweed) *
Epilobium coloratum (willow herb) *
Hibiscus moscheutos (swamp rose mallow) *
Hieracium paniculatum (hawkweed) *
Oxalis sp. (yellow wood sorrel) *
Phytolacca americana (pokeweed)
Pluchea odorata (salt marsh fleabane) *
Polygonum virginianum (Virginia knotweed)
Rumex obtusifolius (broad dock)
Sagina sp. (pearlwort)
Smilacina racemosa (false Solomon's seal)
Solidago caesia (blue stem goldenrod)
Solidago sempervirens (seaside goldenrod) *

Rushes:
Juncus tenuis (path rush)

Sedges:
Scirpus pungens

Grasses:
Digitaria sp. (crab grass)
Phragmites australis (giant reed grass)
Spartina cynosuroides (big cord grass)

PLANTS SEEN ALONG THE RIVER VIA CANOE IN FRESHER WATER

Trees:
Ailanthus altissima (tree of heaven)
Nyssa sylvatica (tupelo)
Salix alba variety (weeping willow)

Shrubs:
Aronia sp. (chokecherry)
Cornus amomum (swamp dogwood)
Salix discolor (pussy willow)
Sambucus canadensis (common elderberry)

Vines:
Calystegia sepium (hedge bindweed) *
Dioscorea villosa (wild yam root)
Mikania scandens (climbing false hempweed) *

Herbs:
Impatiens capensis (orange jewelweed) *
Lobelia cardinalis (cardinal flower) * lots
Lythrum salicaria (purple loosestrife) *
Pontederia cordata (pickerelweed) *
Sagittaria sp. (burreed) *
Sparganium latifolia (broad-leaved arrowhead) *
Typha angustifolia (narrow-leaf cattail)