Morris Park

Morris Park is a neighborhood geographically located in the east Bronx borough of New York City in the United States. The neighborhood is part of Bronx Community Board 11. Its boundaries, starting from the north and moving clockwise are: Pelham Parkway to the north, the Amtrak Northeast Corridor tracks to the east and south, and Bronxdale-Muliner Avenues to the west. Williamsbridge Road and Morris Park Avenue are the primary thoroughfares through Morris Park. The local subway is the IRT Dyre Avenue Line, operating along Esplanade. Zip codes include 10461 and 10462. The area is patrolled by the 49th Precinct located at 2121 Eastchester Road. The neighborhood has an Italian American population.

History
Morris Park is named after John Albert Morris, who built the Morris Park Racecourse, which existed from 1889 until 1910. In 1890 the Morris Park Racecourse hosted the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes, which continued to be run there until 1905. The track was later used for auto racing and the first public air show. After a 1910 fire the property was divided into lots for the current neighborhood. Many streets in Morris Park are named after mayors of New York City from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Land use and terrain
Morris Park is dominated by one and two family homes of various types. The neighborhood also has several apartment buildings. The total land area is roughly one square mile. The area is low laying and flat.

Demographics
Morris Park has a population over 25,000. The neighborhood is a mix of Italian-Americans, Albanians and Hispanics.

Italian-American background
As an Italian American neighborhood, the residents have close ties to their heritage. With Italy’s World Cup victory in 2006, over 30,000 Italians flocked to the neighborhood for an all-day party. Since then, Morris Park has gained a rival reputation with Arthur Avenue for the true Bronx Italian-American, neighborhood. The Bronx Columbus Day Parade is held in Morris Park, an event that both former Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Mayor Michael Bloomberg have attended in recent years. Morris Park has one of the highest Italian populations in the city, along with Bensonhurst and Staten Island.

Notable locations
Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Jacobi Medical Center, and the Jack D. Weiler Hospital division of Montefiore Medical Center are all located on the eastern edge of the neighborhood. Matthews Park, Loreto Park (named after slain New York City Police Officer Alfred Loreto), Van Nest Lanes (a bowling alley), The 24 Hour Store, Maestro’s Catering, Morris Park Boxing Club, St. Clare of Assisi School, St. Francis Xavier School; whose Girls Varsity Basketball team won the Bronx Championship in '98. Our Saviour Lutheran School, P.S. 83; whose Girls Varsity Basketball team won the Bronx championship in 2006-2007, and most notably P.S. 108 which has been rated as one of the top schools in the Bronx for its academic achievement and performance. The neighborhood is also home to Bronx Psychiatric Center and Calvary Hospital.

Notable residents

 * Regis Philbin, singer, television personality, and gameshow host
 * Mary Higgins Clark, best-selling mystery author
 * Jake LaMotta, former professional boxer and middleweight champion
 * Guy Velella, former New York State Senator (Republican) and Bronx Republican Chairman
 * Jeffrey D. Klein, New York State Senator (Democrat)
 * Nancy Savoca, film director
 * Anthony Ribustello, actor
 * Luis Resto, former welterweight boxer and subject of HBO documentary "Assault in the Ring"
 * Cara Buono, actress

Morris Park in film
Morris Park can be seen in the following films:


 * Raging Bull (1980), directed by Martin Scorsese
 * True Love (1989), directed by Nancy Savoca
 * Bad Lieutenant (1991), starring Harvey Keitel
 * Summer of Sam (1999), directed by Spike Lee
 * La Vera Leggenda di Tony Villar (2006) ("The True Legend of Tony Vilar"), directed by Giuseppe Gagliardi
 * Dough Boys (2008), directed by Louis Lombardi
 * Ponies (2010), directed by Nick Sandow

Transportation

 * Bx8: to 225th Street station or Locust Point (via Williamsbridge Road)
 * Bx12: to Bay Plaza Shopping Center or Inwood–207th Street station (via Fordham Road–Pelham Parkway)
 * Bx21: to Westchester Square station or Third Avenue–138th Street station (via Boston Road / Morris Park Avenue)
 * Bx31: to Woodlawn or Westchester Square station (via Eastchester Road)
 * Pelham Parkway (IRT Dyre Avenue Line)
 * Morris Park (IRT Dyre Avenue Line)
 * Bxm10: to Midtown Manhattan

Politics
A reflection of its heavily Italian-American and Catholic population, Morris Park was politically conservative and remained one of the Bronx's few solidly Republican neighborhoods until the 1990s. It was represented in the U.S. Congress from 1953 to 1969 by Paul Fino, a Republican, and then from 1969 to 1988 by Mario Biaggi, a socially-conservative and law and order Democrat. Republican State Senators such as John D. Calandra and Guy Velella drew extensive support from Morris Park residents. In his three mayoral campaigns in 1989, 1993, and 1997, Rudolph Giuliani, a Republican, carried Morris Park by substantial margins. In recent years, changing demographics altered the neighborhood's political landscape. State Senator Jeffrey D. Klein, a liberal Democrat, enjoys the popularity with Morris Park residents that both Calandra and Velella previously enjoyed. Naomi Rivera, a liberal Democrat, currently represents Morris Park in the New York State Assembly. James Vacca, a moderate Democrat, represents the neighborhood in the New York City Council.

Annual Columbus Day Parade
Morris Park is famous for its annual Columbus Day Parade, which began in 1977. It is held on the Sunday before the national Columbus Day holiday. The parade begins on the intersection of Morris Park Avenue and White Plains Road. The parade route turns left on Williamsbridge Road and ends at Pelham Parkway South. The reviewing stand, where the parade's dignataries such as local politicians, civic and business leaders, and the parade's Grand Marshall sit, is located on Williamsbridge Road between Lydig and Neill avenues. Past Grand Marshalls include actor Tony LoBianco, television personality Regis Philbin, and Yankee firstbaseman Joe Pepitone.