Elm Park, Staten Island
Encyclopedia
Elm Park is the name of a small park in the Port Richmond
section of Staten Island
, one of the five boroughs of New York City
, USA. The park is located across Innis Street from Port Richmond High School
.
The name "Elm Park" is also — and perhaps more commonly — used to denote the area from its namesake westward for several blocks, lending its name to the former Elm Park Station
on the North Shore Branch of the Staten Island Railway
. The station was situated directly beneath Morningstar Road. Passenger service on this branch of the railway was halted in 1953; a dilapidated remnant of the station's platform still exists, but the stairways leading to the street have been removed.
At various times, the neighborhood was known as Jacksonville (circa 1830) and Lowville (circa 1850). Its present name was given to it by a local physician, Dr. John T. Harrison, and refers to the elm
trees that could be found on the doctor's estate.
In the early 20th Century a large number of Polish-American families settled in Elm Park, and they still constitute a plurality of its population; many of these families are parishioners of St. Adalbert's Church, a Roman Catholic church located in the community, which later received some African-American and Hispanic
arrivals, particularly in the westernmost blocks bordering Mariners Harbor
.
The last exit on New York State Route 440
before the Bayonne Bridge
is in Elm Park, which also contains one of two Catholic cemeteries on Staten Island named St. Mary's Cemetery; the other cemetery, located in Grasmere
, is much larger than the Elm Park cemetery. This often causes confusion.
In 2008 Senator Charles Schumer
and other Staten Island representatives proposed a Park and Ride
under the bridge, for users of bus service to Bayonne, New Jersey
. Residents have been opposed to this move, yet local businesses, according to the Staten Island Advance
, support the destruction.
Elementary school: P.S.21
Intermediate school: I.S.51
High School: Port Richmond High School
Port Richmond, Staten Island
Port Richmond is a neighborhood situated on the North Shore of Staten Island, one of the five boroughs of New York City, United States. It is along the waterfront of the Kill Van Kull, with the southern terminus of the Bayonne Bridge serving as the boundary between it and Mariners Harbor, the...
section of Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
, one of the five boroughs of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, USA. The park is located across Innis Street from Port Richmond High School
Port Richmond High School
Port Richmond High School is on the North Shore of Staten Island in the Port Richmond neighborhood. It is located at 85 St Josephs Avenue, between Innis Street and Charles Avenue. The principal is Timothy M. Gannon....
.
The name "Elm Park" is also — and perhaps more commonly — used to denote the area from its namesake westward for several blocks, lending its name to the former Elm Park Station
Elm Park (Staten Island Railway station)
Elm Park is a station on the abandoned North Shore Branch of the Staten Island Railway. It has two tracks and two side platforms. It was abandoned on March 31, 1953, along with the South Beach Branch and the rest of the North Shore Branch. It is located in the Staten Island neighborhood of Elm...
on the North Shore Branch of the Staten Island Railway
Staten Island Railway
The Staten Island Rapid Transit Operating Authority, publicly known as MTA Staten Island Railway or SIR, is the operator of the lone rapid transit line in the borough of Staten Island, New York City, USA...
. The station was situated directly beneath Morningstar Road. Passenger service on this branch of the railway was halted in 1953; a dilapidated remnant of the station's platform still exists, but the stairways leading to the street have been removed.
At various times, the neighborhood was known as Jacksonville (circa 1830) and Lowville (circa 1850). Its present name was given to it by a local physician, Dr. John T. Harrison, and refers to the elm
Elm
Elms are deciduous and semi-deciduous trees comprising the genus Ulmus in the plant family Ulmaceae. The dozens of species are found in temperate and tropical-montane regions of North America and Eurasia, ranging southward into Indonesia. Elms are components of many kinds of natural forests...
trees that could be found on the doctor's estate.
In the early 20th Century a large number of Polish-American families settled in Elm Park, and they still constitute a plurality of its population; many of these families are parishioners of St. Adalbert's Church, a Roman Catholic church located in the community, which later received some African-American and Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
arrivals, particularly in the westernmost blocks bordering Mariners Harbor
Mariners Harbor, Staten Island
Mariners Harbor is a neighborhood located in the northwestern part of New York City, USA's borough of Staten Island. It is bordered by Lake Avenue to the east, Lisk Avenue to the south, Richmond Terrace to the north, and Holland Avenue to the west...
.
The last exit on New York State Route 440
New York State Route 440
New York State Route 440 is a state highway located entirely on Staten Island in New York City. The route acts as a connector between the two segments of New Jersey Route 440, running from the Staten Island community of Richmond Valley to the south to Port Richmond to the north...
before the Bayonne Bridge
Bayonne Bridge
The Bayonne Bridge is the fourth longest steel arch bridge in the world, and was the longest in the world at the time of its completion. It connects Bayonne, New Jersey with Staten Island, New York, spanning the Kill Van Kull. Despite popular belief, it is not a national landmark.The bridge was...
is in Elm Park, which also contains one of two Catholic cemeteries on Staten Island named St. Mary's Cemetery; the other cemetery, located in Grasmere
Grasmere, Staten Island
Grasmere is the name of a neighborhood located on the East Shore of Staten Island, one of the five boroughs of New York City.Grasmere although crossed by major roads has retained its quiet suburban character. The area and adjoining Concord was dotted with lakes and ponds similar to the English...
, is much larger than the Elm Park cemetery. This often causes confusion.
In 2008 Senator Charles Schumer
Charles Schumer
Charles Ellis "Chuck" Schumer is the senior United States Senator from New York and a member of the Democratic Party. First elected in 1998, he defeated three-term Republican incumbent Al D'Amato by a margin of 55%–44%. He was easily re-elected in 2004 by a margin of 71%–24% and in 2010 by a...
and other Staten Island representatives proposed a Park and Ride
Park and ride
Park and ride facilities are car parks with connections to public transport that allow commuters and other people wishing to travel into city centres to leave their vehicles and transfer to a bus, rail system , or carpool for the rest of their trip...
under the bridge, for users of bus service to Bayonne, New Jersey
Bayonne, New Jersey
Bayonne is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. Located in the Gateway Region, Bayonne is a peninsula that is situated between Newark Bay to the west, the Kill van Kull to the south, and New York Bay to the east...
. Residents have been opposed to this move, yet local businesses, according to the Staten Island Advance
Staten Island Advance
The Staten Island Advance is a daily newspaper published in the borough of Staten Island in New York City. The only daily newspaper published in the borough, and the only borough to have its own major daily paper, it covers news of local and community interest, including borough politics. As of...
, support the destruction.
Transportation
Prior to 1953, Elm Park was served by the Staten Island Railway's North Shore Branch. However, it is presently only served by buses. Elm Park is served by the S40/S90 along Richmond Terrace, the S44/S94 along Morningstar Road, the S46/S96 along Walker street, and the S48/S98 along Forest Avenue. At the intersection of Forest Avenue/Richmond Avenue, riders can also take the X10, X12, X30, and X42 express buses directly to Manhattan, as well as the S89 to Bayonne (which also stops at Morningstar Road/Walker Street).Education
Most public school students in Elm Park are zoned the following schools:Elementary school: P.S.21
Intermediate school: I.S.51
High School: Port Richmond High School