Bordered on the north by Yonkers, on the east by Wakefield, and on the south and west by verdant Van Cortland Park, Woodlawn, sometimes called Woodlawn Heights, is the heart of New York’s Irish American population. At the very north end of the Bronx, this woodsy neighborhood is often dubbed “Little Ireland.” Woodlawn’s strong Irish cultural identity is immediately visible, evidenced by the many Irish pubs and restaurants that string Katonah Avenue, the main thoroughfare of this inviting neighborhood. Four-leaf clovers adorn the signs of local businesses and most families have lived here for generations. Streets are lined with trees, and dominated by low-rise apartment buildings and single-family homes. Bounded by the Bronx River Parkway to the east, and with two Subway lines, a Metro North train station, and good bus service, Woodlawn is one of the most accessible neighborhoods in the city.
Woodlawn Cemetery & Conservancy is an important piece of this vibrant community’s heritage. Overlooking the Bronx River, Woodlawn Cemetery, a National Historic Landmark known for its ornate mausoleums and unrivalled collection of funerary art, is the final resting place of luminaries like Herman Melville, Fiorello LaGuardia, and Duke Ellington, among other famed New Yorkers. As robust and distinct as our surrounding community, Woodlawn Cemetery, too, draws strength from the rich heritage of our residents.