Morris Park Library
🏢 New York Public Library — The Bronx, New York
Morris Park Library
Morris Park Library opened on July 21, 2006 as the first public library the neighborhood had ever had — a two-level, 6,600-square-foot facility serving a community that grew out of the grounds of the 19th-century Morris Park Racecourse, which hosted the Preakness and Belmont Stakes before a 1910 fire ended horse racing there. The branch reflects the neighborhood's strongly Italian-American character with a collection that includes materials in Italian, Albanian, and Chinese alongside English.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–7pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–7pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–7pm |
| Thursday | 10am–7pm |
| Friday | 10am–5pm |
| Saturday | 10am–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays.
📍 Location & Contact
Address: 985 Morris Park Avenue, The Bronx, NY 10462
Phone: 7189310636
Website: nypl.org
📖 About Morris Park Library
<p>Morris Park Library became the neighborhood's first library when it opened on July 21, 2006. The two-level, 6,600-square-foot building at 985 Morris Park Avenue holds approximately 25,000 items and provides 19 public computers as well as wireless internet access throughout. The Morris Park neighborhood itself carries a racecourse legacy: John Albert Morris established the Morris Park Racecourse in 1889, and the track hosted prestigious events including the Preakness and Belmont Stakes before a fire in 1910 ended racing and the land was subdivided into the residential neighborhood of today. Morris Park is one of the Bronx's most distinctively Italian-American communities, hosting an annual Columbus Day parade since 1977 and home to major medical institutions including Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Jacobi Medical Center. The branch's multilingual collection — English, Italian, Albanian, and Chinese — reflects the neighborhood's demographic mix.</p>
⭐ What makes this branch special
- Opened July 21, 2006 as Morris Park's very first public library; the neighborhood previously had no branch of its own
- Two-level, 6,600 sq ft facility with approximately 25,000 items — collections in English, Italian, Albanian, and Chinese
- 19 public computers plus free Wi-Fi throughout the building
- STEAM Discovery Kits available for borrowing alongside children's, teen, and adult programming
- Neighborhood built on the former Morris Park Racecourse grounds (1889–1910), which hosted the Preakness and Belmont Stakes before a 1910 fire ended racing
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❓ Frequently Asked Questions
When did Morris Park Library open, and why was it the neighborhood's first?
Morris Park Library opened on July 21, 2006, becoming the first public library the Morris Park neighborhood had ever had. Before this branch opened, residents had to travel to neighboring areas for NYPL services. The branch was built to serve a community that had grown substantially after the Morris Park Racecourse grounds were subdivided for residential use following a 1910 fire.
Does Morris Park Library have materials in Italian or other languages?
Yes. The branch collection of approximately 25,000 items includes materials in Italian, Albanian, and Chinese alongside English, reflecting the neighborhood's Italian-American, Albanian, and Chinese communities. Ask at the circulation desk for the current selection.
What is the history behind the Morris Park neighborhood name?
The neighborhood is named for John Albert Morris, who built the Morris Park Racecourse on what had been Westchester farmland in 1889. The track hosted major horse races including the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. After a fire destroyed the grandstand in 1910, the property was divided into residential lots, creating the neighborhood that exists today. The library sits on Morris Park Avenue, the main commercial street that runs through this historic community.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in October 2026.