“MORRIS PARK STARS” AT LORETO PLAYGROUND

“MORRIS PARK STARS” - the new Morris Park BID large scale light installation at Loreto Playground

Morris Park, The Bronx – Following the success of our first award-winning light installation at Loreto Playground (“The Pulse, 2024-2025), the Morris Park Business Improvement District (MPBID) launched a new, large-scale public art lighting project on July 3rd 2025. The “Morris Park Stars” was shining brightly in red, white and blue for the July 4th holiday.

The concept of the “Morris Park Stars” is the universal aim for the stars, translatable across all cultures, bringing a sense of joy, energy and exuberance around the park. The installation enhances Loreto Playground as the center of the Morris Park neighborhood, where families spend time together, exercise, socialize and enjoy the outdoors. The installation consists of 144 3ft light tubes configurated in the shape of 9 “stars” forming a 110 foot -long dynamic light fixture. Installed 9 feet above ground, the structure is dynamic and versatile, changing colors and patterns to accompany culturally relevant community celebrations and special occasions. The installation covers the fence on Morris Park Avenue at Loreto Playground, between Haight Avenue and Tomlinson Avenue and will be displayed between July 2025 – June 2026.

The project was commissioned and executed by the Morris Park Business Improvement District, co-designed with Limbic Media and installed by City1 Maintenance, with funding through a NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) Single District Small BID Grant. Morris Park Stars is also supported by NYC Parks, NYC Department of Transportation, and ConEd.

The “Morris Park Stars” follows the success of a previous installation at the same location – “The Pulse” (June 2024- June 2025, which was awarded a “Honorable Mention” at the LIT 2024 International Lighting Design Awards competition amongst over 580 entries in 52 countries. --- “Morris Park BID is proud to bring a new large-scale light installation to Loreto Playground, a public art project unique to Morris Park in the Bronx. We are grateful to all the NYC agencies supporting our advocacy for investments in public realm surrounding our commercial corridors.

We are proud to continue innovating public spaces to fuel economic development of Bronx commercial corridors”, said Dr. Camelia Tepelus, Morris Park Business Improvement District Executive Director. ---

“Innovative commercial district lighting projects like the Morris Park Stars not only beautify our streets, but make them safer and more livable for everyone,” said SBS Commissioner Dynishal Gross. “Projects like this are exactly what the Single District Small BID Grant program was designed to do and reflect what we can accomplish when we invest directly in our city’s commercial corridors. Thank you to everyone at the Morris Park BID for bringing light to Loreto Playground!” ---

“Loreto Playground is once again shining brightly this summer. We at Parks are proud to support innovative public art like the ‘Morris Park Stars’ through our Art in the Parks program, enhancing our greenspaces and making our parks more engaging and livable for New Yorkers throughout the five boroughs”, said NYC Parks and Recreation Senior Public Art Coordinator Elizabeth Masella.