Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Map: Martin Luther King Jr Place(s) Around the City
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jan 19, 2009
Modified Jan 19, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jan 19, 2009
Modified Jan 19, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
View Larger Map
Did you know that there's a Martin Luther King Jr Way in Brooklyn? It seems not many people do. The NY Times zeroes in on the tiny one-blocker in Bed-Stuy, which is located between Marcy and Tompkins Avenues. They note that it houses a handful of buildings, a playground and a small city park ("all pavement, no grass to speak of"). While it was one of the first to be named for the civil rights activist, it isn't the best known.
The one everyone seems to know about, the one in Harlem, is also called 125th Street, and the one in the Bronx is also known as University Avenue. The city also has a Martin Luther King Jr. housing project, less than a dozen blocks south of the Harlem street; a Martin Luther King Jr. High School, near Lincoln Center; and a Martin Luther King Triangle, in the Mott Haven neighborhood of the Bronx. It is a park one-sixteenth of an acre in size.
The Brooklyn block used to be called Floyd Street, but was changed on June 11th, 1974. Sadly, the small stretch isn't always the pride of the neighborhood, as some residents told the paper that it's well known to gangs and drug dealers. This is often a stereotype that streets named after the activist get, and Chris Rock once said: "If you find yourself on Martin Luther King Boulevard, run!" Unrelated to the bad rap, and depicted in the map above, there are two boroughs that haven't honored King with a street name yet—what's the delay Queens and Staten Island?
Tagged
map
martin luther king jr
mlk jr
park
school
street
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 18, 2026 at 10:34 a.m. ET
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
Repeat offenders are a big talking point in the governor's race.
By
Gino Fanelli
News
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
Repeat offenders are a big talking point in the governor's race.
By
Gino Fanelli
NYPD searching for 'person of interest' in fatal Midtown subway platform shooting
By
Ryan Kost
and
Elizabeth Kim
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
By
Ryan Kost
Being reigning champions is weird for Knicks fans, but we could get used to this.
By
Catalina Gonella
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .