Windshield Survey
Bronx District 11
Morris Park

A windshield survey is assessment tool used in community nursing that helps the community nurse become familiar with a certain area. This identifies the health needs of a particular community focusing on the exclusive needs of a certain community. This involves driving and walking through the targeted community to observe the communities characteristics. The observed neighborhood was the Bronx, district 11 of Morris Park. Morris Park borders Pelham Parkway at the north and on the east and south borders is Amtrak railroad tracks. To the east is the Hutchinson Parkway. Morris Park is comprised of both commercial and residential buildings. The residential buildings are mostly found on the smaller streets. The commercial buildings are on the outskirts of the neighborhood.
Housing and Zoning The zoning regulations are a mixture of commercial and residential properties mostly made up of medium to low density occupancy. The residential area is mainly three family houses which accounts for approximately 90% of the buildings. These units are detached, semi-detached and attached houses. Some of the houses are as old as 70 years old with some as young as 10 years old. Most are kept in good condition. All of the homes are equipped with plumbing, heating and some with air conditioners.
Open Space While evaluating the community it was found not to have a lot of green or open spaces. On the outskirts of Morris Park there are some beautiful open green spaces. Off Pelham Parkway there is a street called “Greenstreets” which is lined with trees and a park. At this space people were playing ball and having fun. Back in Morris Park many of the homes do not have big lawns but the patrons substituted this with beautiful window boxes with flowers. A gesture that shows they take pride in in their environment by trying to make it beautiful. Some of the houses had decks and/or porches and some with the American flag blowing in the wind.
Commons
Morris Park had many common places to hang out. There were pizzerias in which all ages were seen enjoying themselves. On Morris Avenue there is a four story building which is The Center for Learning Disabilities. Also noticed was The Bronx Council for the Arts and the S.H and Helen R. Scheuer Swimming Center which is attached to the Bronx Recreation Center. The younger crowd can be seen at the few night clubs in the area. These establishments are not exclusively for use by the Morris Park residents. The centralized location allows surrounding area to utilize these businesses as well.
Recreation
Morris park neighborhood has a number of playgrounds and places to relax. At the northern section which borders Pelham Parkway there is an area that has some nice old trees that people can take a walk. There is a 218 acre playground that has a roller rink named in honor of Alfred Loreto. Alfred Loreto was a police officer who lost his life trying to rescue a kidnapped woman. He is considered a local hero because he saved the woman from two gunmen.
Transportation
Most of the residents have cars and the streets are congested. They are access to public transportation via of subway at 180th Street which houses the #2 and #5 trains. Bus routes include the BX 8, 12, 21 and 31 and it runs about every 5 minutes during the week and every 15 minutes on the weekends. There were not an abundance of people walking or riding bicycles. There are four lane highways and few potholes were observed. The major highways nearby were the Bronx River Parkway, the Bruckner Expressway, the Hutchinson River Parkway and I-95.
Conclusion
The Morris park section of the Bronx was found to be mostly middle classed individuals who take pride in their neighborhood. This is evident in the way they keep they properties as they show pride in what the own. As a nurse evaluating this neighborhood I would believe that the people of the community take care of their health as was evident in the neighborhood and the conditions of Morris Park.