Melrose in the Bronx in Bronx County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Railroad Park
.732 acre
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 16, 2024
This park at the intersection of Courtlandt Avenue, East 161st, and East 162nd Streets in the Bronx neighborhood of Melrose takes its name from the nearby railroad station.
A Scottish surveyor named the Bronx neighborhood of Melrose as a tribute to Sir Walter Scott's (1771-1832) popular work Melrose Abbey. This part of the southeastern Bronx was part of the land granted to the Morris family by the British crown in the 17th century. The family began selling sections of their property in the 1850s, primarily to German immigrant families seeking residences beyond the confines of Manhattan. The introduction of rapid transit in 1908 transformed Melrose from an isolated suburb into a bustling urban area. Throughout the early 1900s Melrose became one of the largest commercial and entertainment centers in the Bronx.
Initially referred to as "the one-acre park," this site was acquired by NYC Parks in 1898. When it opened to the public four years later, patrons referred to the space as "the baby park" for both its small size and the number of young children who frequented it daily. In 1920, Borough President Henry Bruckner (1871-1942) officially named the site Melrose Park. Nine years later, NYC Parks opened a public comfort station on the property.
The site includes a flagpole with a yardarm and a circular walkway surrounding a grassy area interspersed with a variety of trees. The comfort station, one of the few constructed prior to Parks Commissioner Robert Moses's tenure, remains on site, but is currently inaccessible.
In 2001 Parks Commissioner Henry J. Stern renamed the property Railroad Park, which references the Metro-North Railroad Melrose station located across the street. There is also a Railroad Park in Queens and a Railroad Playground in Brooklyn.
Erected by NYC Parks. (Marker Number 300.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Parks & Recreational Areas • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the NYC Parks series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1908.
Location. 40° 49.492′ N, 73° 54.941′ W. Marker is in Bronx, New York, in Bronx County. It is in Melrose. Marker is on East 161st Street west of Courtlandt Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 875 Courtlandt Ave, Bronx NY 10451, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Air Quality is Being Monitored Here (approx. 0.2 miles away); Melrose Commons Park (approx. 0.2 miles away); Chateau Thierry (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Heinrich Heine Fountain
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 16, 2024
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 16, 2024
Credits. This page was last revised on February 21, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 21, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 38 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 21, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.