Bronx Walk of Fame facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Bronx Walk of Fame

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Established	1997
Location	Grand Concourse from 138th Street to East 161st Street, The Bronx, New York, U.S.
Type	Hall of Fame
Founder	Fernando Ferrer
Owner	Bronx borough president, Bronx Tourism Council
Public transit access	New York City Subway (149th Street), (138th and 149th Streets), (138th and 149th Streets), (161st Street), (161st Street)
Nearest parking	Street parking and nearby private garages

Signs for Nate Archibald and Regis Philbin, two of the first people honored on the Walk of Fame.

The Bronx Walk of Fame is a special tribute that stretches for 23 blocks along the Grand Concourse, a major street in the Bronx, a part of New York City. It honors famous and important people who have lived in the Bronx.

The Walk of Fame celebrates people from many fields. Some are famous actors, singers, or athletes. Others are people who may not be as well-known but have done great things for society. New people are chosen to be honored every year.

History of the Walk

The idea for the Bronx Walk of Fame came from Fernando Ferrer. He was the Bronx borough president, a job similar to being the mayor of that part of the city. In 1997, he wanted a way to celebrate amazing people with a connection to the Bronx.

The First Ceremony

The first awards ceremony was held on June 1, 1997. It was part of Bronx Week, a yearly celebration with festivals, concerts, and a parade.

The names of the first honorees were put on special street signs. These signs were placed on lampposts along the Grand Concourse. The original signs showed the honoree's name, with pictures of the Bronx County Courthouse and a pizza shop.

New Signs and Future Plans

In 2007, the signs were updated with a new look. The pizza shop image was replaced with a drawing of an Art Deco building. This style matches many of the cool, old apartment buildings on the Grand Concourse.

As more people were honored, the signs were placed further down the street. They now stretch all the way to the southern end of the Grand Concourse.

In 2019, a project began to improve the Walk of Fame. The plan was to rearrange the plaques to group people with similar talents together. This makes it easier for visitors to see the signs and learn about the honorees using a digital map.

How People Are Chosen

The Bronx Walk of Fame sign for actress and singer Diahann Carroll.

Anyone from the community can suggest someone for the Walk of Fame. A special committee then makes the final decision. This committee includes the Bronx borough president and members of the Bronx Tourism Council.

The new honorees are announced each year during Bronx Week. Their personalized street signs are revealed in a ceremony in front of the Bronx County Courthouse. The signs stay there for one year. After that, they are moved to a permanent spot on the Grand Concourse to make way for the next group.

The Bronx Tourism Council takes care of the Walk of Fame. Since 2012, up to five people are selected each year. In 2020, the event was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

List of Honorees

The following people have been honored with a spot on the Bronx Walk of Fame. An asterisk (*) means they were honored after they passed away.

* Posthumous honoree