Working to keep historic Harlem beautiful to Live, Work & Play

MMPCIA has continued to advocate for and keep pace with the changing face of the community and its ever-evolving needs. We are dedicated to revitalizing the expanded Historic District and beyond and to foster an environment of open and active opportunities. We support neighborhood beautification, programs for our youth and our seniors, and scholarships for the next generation of leaders. We reflect the spectrum of voices, ideas and opinions of those who share the neighborhood.

1966

Proposal
Proposed, Mount Morris Park District by NYC Landmarks Commission
1967

Fire Watchtower Designated NYC Landmark Hilda Stokely
Unofficially, the Mount Morris Park neighborhood was vigilant and active for decades. Committed residents like Hilda Stokely were very instrumental in securing landmark status for the Fire Watch Tower in Marcus Garvey Park in 1967.
1971

Mount Morris Park Designated NYC’s 19th Historic District
(Harold Dolly, Dr. Thelma Adair and others picketed, protested and succeeded in foiling (in the late ‘60s and ‘70s and again in the mid- ‘80s) the State’s taking of nine brownstones on Mount Morris Park West for a home for wayward boys, a drug rehab facility and finally an extension of the prison on the corner. The result—in 1971 the buildings were landmarked, and Mount Morris Park was designated New York City’s 18th Historic District.
1973

Mount Morris Park renamed Marcus Garvey Park and the Mount Morris Park Historic District was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
The park was created in 1840 and was originally named for Robert Morris, then the mayor of New York City. It was renamed after black activist and businessman Marcus Garvey in 1973.
1981

MMPCIA Formed
Mount Morris PARK COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT Association Officially founded
1988

Annual Mount Morris Park House Tours first held on the 2nd Sunday in June.
MMPCIA began opening our doors and inviting New Yorkers from across the island and tourists from around the world into our homes.
1999

Parkside Correctional Facility is closed and “Ruins” restored
The site sits adjacent to a row of late-1800’s brownstones so deteriorated they have come to be known as “The Ruins”.
2009

Scholarships established
Established a scholarship program for local families to help college bound high school students pay for some of their college expenses
2013

Street Area Safety Improvements
Successfully lobbied for traffic lights on Mount Morris Park West to manage the flow of traffic and improve pedestrian and driver safety.
2019

Watchtower renovation completed
Construction began in late 2014 and ended in December 2019 when the watchtower was reopened for the public.