Morris Park - Bronx, NY

John Albert Morris built a horse racing track on the land that became Morris Park in 1889, though it burned down a couple of decades later. The city took over the area and encouraged residential development as the 20th century began, building streets and installing a streetcar route. This development boom continued into the 1940s and beyond, attracting large numbers of Italian immigrants to the neighborhood.

Just to the west of the neighborhood, you'll find the Bronx River Art Center, a culturally diverse nonprofit that provides a forum for artists and creative types. A local by the name of Joseph Garofalo persuaded John Dormi & Sons Funeral Home to display his collection of war memorabilia in what he christened the Bronx Military Museum.

In one of the city's most Italian neighborhoods, it's no great surprise that the dining options err predominantly towards traditional Italian cuisines. Find the hub of the entertainment district along Morris Park Avenue, running from east to west through the center of the neighborhood.

For a taste of southern Italy from a seasonal menu, and to enjoy the benefits of a large and well-stocked wine cellar, try Patricia's. If you're looking for a truly intimate dining experience, the wine cellar can be booked for up to 12 people. Dip bread in garlic-laden olive oil as you wait for your meal, try a pasta dish such as homemade penne or risotto, or tuck in for an Italian pizza with toppings that include prosciutto, eggplant and salami.

If you love straight-up New York-style pizza, head to Emilio's Pizza, a local favorite with an extensive menu for lunch or dinner. Try a specialty pizza with toppings such as chicken and pesto or mushrooms and roasted peppers, or choose your own toppings from an extensive list of options. If you're not in the mood for pizza, this restaurant also finds fans within the neighborhood for its oven-baked raviolis and ziti dishes, pasta entrees and calzones.

For something a little bit different, head to La Masa, a restaurant that specializes in made-to-order Columbian empanadas. Try a meat empanada with chicken, beef, pork or sausage, as well as potato, cilantro, scallions and tomato, or sample a variety with a combo plate. For dessert, locals recommend giving the sweet empanadas a try, with ingredients such as chocolate sauce, banana, strawberry and guava.

As evening falls, head to one of the neighborhood's cozy bars and pubs, such as the Williamsbridge Tavern. Play pool at Park Billiards Cafe, go bowling at Van Nest Lanes or dance the night away and enjoy live music and karaoke just to the east of Morris Park at the Skyline Bar. The nightlife in the city follows a similar cozy and casual trend.

Thanks to its central city location, Morris Park enjoys plenty of public transportation, including several bus routes to Locust Point, Inwood, Westchester Square, Woodlawn or Midtown Manhattan. Bee Line bus routes 60, 61 and 52 run along Boston Road to Lower Westchester, while the Pelham Parkway and Morris Park trains also travel through the neighborhood.

Parking within Morris Park can be problematic, with locals claiming that it's the scarcity of free or metered public parking that keeps national retailers from opening branches in Morris Park, but traveling by personal vehicle to other parts of the city and beyond is relatively simple thanks to the Bronx River Parkway and Hutchinson River Parkway to the west and east of the neighborhood.

Because the area is small in size, it's very walkable and friendly to pedestrians and cyclists alike, despite the lack of bike lanes. Alternatively, hail one of the cabs that sporadically pass through the neighborhood, call for a ride from a local cab company or take advantage of Uber, which operates throughout New York City.

Within Morris Park, the only green space of note is the Loreto Playground, an area that is free for recreational use honoring a slain New York City police officer who rescued a victim from two gunmen. Within this park, exercise enthusiasts take advantage of the basketball, bocce and handbal courts, while kids enjoy the spray showers and playgrounds. Mark your calendar for the famous annual Bronx Columbus Day Parade in Morris Park, held on the Sunday before the Columbus Day holiday. To the west, find the Matthews Muliner Playground, named for inhabitants of the area from the Revolutionary War and sharing many of the same facilities as the Loreto Playground.

While both of these parks are relatively small, you need only head to the western border of the neighborhood to find one of the biggest and most beautiful parks in the whole city. Bronx Park attracts visitors for its scenic landscapes, diverse wildlife and two-mile stretch of river, as well as for the Bronx Zoo and New York Botanical Garden. Featuring dog-friendly areas for the canine member of the family and playgrounds for the kids, this huge park also finds space for baseball fields, bocce courts, football fields, kayak and canoe launch sites, a skate park, fitness equipment, tennis courts, soccer fields and greenways for cyclists.

You can expect a cost of living that's almost 10 percent lower than the average for New York City, although, because it is located in one of the nation's most expensive places to live, it's still more than 50 percent above the national average. The median rental cost for a one-bedroom in Morris Park sits around $1,200, while travelling to the city center on public transportation will cost you around $2. You can expect to pay $7 or more for a glass of beer in a local bar, while gas prices sit around 11 percent above the national average.

Sitting at right angles in the center of Morris Park, you'll find two streets that are lined with shopping opportunities: Morris Park Avenue and Williamsbridge Road. Most stores here are family owned or smaller specialty vendors, such as The Lair, selling comics and other niche collectibles. For a trustworthy local jeweler, try the Fiorino Jewelers for bespoke pieces. To stock up on food supplies the Big Deal Supermarket has got you covered for all your needs. The Farmer's Market at Jacobi Medical Center at the north edge of the neighborhood provides excellent seasonal produce, and the weekly South Bronx Community Garden Farmers' Market lies just to the south.