Searchable city map reveals the stories behind honorary street names in Riverdale and beyond

Editor's note 6/26/26: A previous version of this article stated Pauline Toole is commissioner of the Department of Records and Information Services. She is no longer commissioner, but held the position while the tool was being created and launched. 

Residents passing by may have wondered about the stories behind co-named streets — the green corner signs that quietly bear names with histories often left untold. The answers, however, are right at their fingertips, with an online interactive map highlighting the more than 2,500 dedicated street signs across the city.

Launched by the New York City Department of Records and Information Services, or DORIS, the digital tool aims to make those stories more accessible. The application is online on DORIS’ website, and offers a map search tool based on ZIP codes.

“We want people to know about their neighbors who’ve done something, maybe 10 years ago, and be inspired by this little history,” said Pauline Toole, who was commissioner of the Department of Records and Information Services while the project was being created and launched.

The New York City Council approves all co-namings — honorary additions that place a secondary name on an existing street corner — through local laws, often in batches that include dozens of designations at a time. 

Each proposal is typically introduced by a council member and accompanied by a committee report outlining the honoree’s background and contributions.

Former Mayor Eric Adams tasked DORIS with creating the online map available on the city’s website in collaboration with the New York City Office of Technology and Innovation in 2023. The initiative went public the following year.

“When people walk down the street and they see something, they can use the application to find out about that individual,” Toole said.

The commissioner credited three DORIS interns with helping bring the tool to fruition. They were tasked with collecting data from historical archives, as well as City Council bills and committee reports, and geocoding — pinpointing the exact locations — of co-named signs.

The city map, launched in 2024, was intended to make the histories behind those co-namings easier to find. The tool organizes decades of those co-namings into a searchable database. Users can look up names or locations to learn who a street corner honors and why. Unlike official renamings, which replace a street name entirely, co-namings leave the original address intact while adding a sign, typically at an intersection, that reflects the honoree’s legacy, often tied to the surrounding neighborhood.

Toole said the goal is to place that information within reach of anyone walking through the city.

“Some streets and parks are named for people who are familiar to many of us, like David Dinkins Way,” she said. “Most of us in New York know that he was the first African American mayor of the city and had a long career before that. But we don’t necessarily know who Herb Lieberman was.”

The following examples represent a selection of co-named streets across the northwest Bronx. Dozens more appear throughout Riverdale, Kingsbridge and surrounding neighborhoods, each recognizing individuals whose contributions, whether widely known or deeply local, helped shape the communities they called home.

In Riverdale

According to DORIS, Herb Lieberman Way, at the intersection of West 236th Street and Independence Avenue, was designated in 2004 in recognition of a Bronx resident known for his dedication to local schools and community life. Lieberman served on the executive boards of P.S. 24 and the David A. Stein Riverdale School, M.S. 141, supporting students and families. A longtime resident, the map showed, he remained active in neighborhood affairs for decades, building a legacy rooted in civic engagement and service.

Nearby, in 2016, the city designated a corner of West 246th Street and the Henry Hudson Parkway as Grace Belkin Way. Belkin served as the first district manager of Bronx Community Board 8, beginning in the late 1970s as the city formalized its modern community board system. Over three decades, she became a steady and influential presence, shaping land use decisions and advocating for neighborhood preservation.

Belkin played a central role in advancing Community Board 8’s 197-a Plan, which helped establish zoning protections aligned with the character of Riverdale’s neighborhoods and safeguarded the Special Natural Area District. She also pushed for infrastructure improvements, including local sanitation access and major retaining wall reconstruction projects. Her work left a lasting imprint on both the physical and civic landscape of the northwest Bronx.

In Spuyten Duyvil

At the intersection of Independence Avenue and Palisade Avenue, John McKelvey Sr. Way was designated in 2022. McKelvey, an attorney, author and preservationist, played a defining role in shaping the early development of Spuyten Duyvil.

According to DORIS, in the early 20th century, he helped design and promote cooperative housing modeled after European villas, including the Villa Rosa Bonheur and its sister buildings.

His work was rooted in the ideals of the City Beautiful movement, emphasizing thoughtful planning and green space preservation. Through his involvement with civic organizations and development companies, the map noted, McKelvey helped influence the creation of Riverdale Park and broader efforts to protect the neighborhood from overdevelopment.

In Kingsbridge

In 2025, the intersection of West 230th Street and Tibbett Avenue was designated as James A. “Jimmy” Packes Way, recognizing a local businessman known for his generosity. Packes owned and operated Riverdale Auto Clinic for more than 20 years and became a familiar figure in the community, as noted in the streetname map.

During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, he offered free car maintenance to frontline workers, an act that earned him recognition as an “unsung hero,” according to the map. His reputation for kindness and service extended beyond his business, reflecting a broader commitment to helping neighbors in times of need.