Minneapolis Neighborhood
Morris Park
In the far southeast corner of the city — where a small residential pocket runs out to the city limit, the Crosstown cuts across the south end, and a neighborhood that most of Minneapolis forgets exists quietly goes about its business.
№ 56 of 87 · Nokomis community · Last updated: October 2026 · A complete neighborhood guide
Morris Park exists at the edges. At the city limit, which runs down 46th Avenue with the unincorporated Fort Snelling territory beyond it. At the Crosstown, which cuts across the south end of the neighborhood. Between neighborhoods that people have heard of and neighborhoods that people haven't. It is a small neighborhood — a little under 3,000 people in a pocket of residential blocks in the far southeast corner of the city. Nobody moves to Morris Park because they saw it on a best-neighborhoods list. People find it the way you find most valuable things: by looking where nobody else is looking, and discovering that the absence of attention has preserved something worth having.
What is Morris Park, Minneapolis?
Morris Park is a small residential neighborhood in south Minneapolis, part of the Nokomis community, defined by its position in the far southeast corner of the city. With about 2,900 residents, it occupies a compact area bounded roughly by East 54th Street to the north, 46th Avenue South and the city limit to the east, the city limit beyond the Crosstown to the south, and 34th Avenue South to the west.
The neighborhood is characterized by modest single-family homes, most of them built between the 1940s and the 1960s. There is very little commercial activity within Morris Park — residents rely on neighboring areas for shopping, dining, and services. What the neighborhood offers is affordable housing in a small, quiet community with Minnehaha Park and the river a short trip away.
Morris Park Neighborhood Sign
Morris Park, Minneapolis — Key Stats (2025–2026)
- Residents (2020 Census)
- ~2,900
- Median home sale price (2025 data)
- $310K
- Median rent, all unit sizes (Census ACS 2020–2024)
- ~$1,640
- Walk Score (Oct 2026)
- 40
- Bike Score (Oct 2026)
- 47
- Transit Score (Oct 2026)
- 49
- Renter-occupied homes (2020–24 ACS)
- 13%
- Neighborhood area
- 0.5 sq mi
Morris Park History & Origins
The name Morris Park is older than the park. It goes back to the Morris Park Addition, platted in 1911 in what is now the northeast part of the neighborhood; the park came much later and was named for Morris Elementary School next door. The area's history is that of a latecomer — this corner of the city was part of Richfield until Minneapolis annexed it in 1927, after Richfield voters approved the split in December 1926.
Before European settlement, this land near the Mississippi River was part of the Dakota homeland.
Within a few years of annexation, the Morris School PTA was pressing the park board for a park near the school. That effort stalled in 1931, when property owners balked at the assessments and the board gave up on parks in the newly annexed area.
The park finally came in the 1950s, a joint project with the school board: the land was acquired in 1956, and homes had to be moved before construction could begin. The park's shelter was expanded into a small recreation center in 1993 and 1994, and Morris School closed in 2007.
Living in Morris Park
Morris Park feels different from most of Minneapolis. The city limit on two sides — the unincorporated Fort Snelling territory lies beyond 46th Avenue and to the south — gives it an edge-of-the-city feeling even though it's only about six miles from downtown. The residential blocks are compact and self-contained, a cluster of homes that seem to exist in their own world, with the Crosstown running through the south end.
The homes are modest — mostly small single-family houses. Census estimates date about two-thirds of them to 1940–1969 and most of the rest to before 1940. Some homes have been updated; others retain their original character, for better or worse.
People tend to stay. More than four in five households own their homes, and almost a third have been in the same house since before 2000, according to Census estimates.
The river is the neighborhood's greatest natural asset, though it isn't on the doorstep. The Mississippi lies under half a mile past Morris Park's northeast corner, beyond Highway 55 and Minnehaha Regional Park, and the river trail system there provides walking and biking opportunities that connect the neighborhood to the broader Minneapolis riverfront.
Morris Park Food, Drink & Local Spots
Morris Park has very little commercial activity within its boundaries — a couple of storefronts on its edges along 34th Avenue and 54th Street. For most food, drink, and shopping, residents head to neighboring areas.
In the Neighborhood
An egg-free, dairy-free bakery at 5501 34th Avenue South, on the Morris Park side of the street. Everything is made from scratch daily, and cakes can be pre-ordered.
An e-bike shop at 4313 East 54th Street, on the neighborhood's north edge — sales, service, and rentals, with test rides welcome.
Parks & Outdoors Near Morris Park
Morris Park's outdoor amenities center on the neighborhood's namesake park, with Minnehaha Regional Park and the Mississippi River a short trip to the northeast.
Morris Park
The neighborhood's namesake park, at 5531 39th Avenue South, provides a recreation center, a playground and tot lot, a wading pool, softball and soccer fields, a picnic area, and a skate park added in 2005. It is small, under four acres, but serves as the social center of a small neighborhood that doesn't have many other gathering places.
Bossen Field, Lake Nokomis, and Minnehaha Falls
Bossen Field is a few blocks west, across 34th Avenue in Wenonah. Lake Nokomis is about a mile and a half west-northwest of the middle of the neighborhood, and Minnehaha Falls is about a mile north.
Mississippi River Access
The Mississippi River is under half a mile beyond Morris Park's northeast corner, past Highway 55, where Minnehaha Regional Park meets the river. Trails there provide walking and biking routes along the riverfront, connecting north toward downtown and the St. Anthony Falls area. The wooded gorge along this stretch of river gives it a different feel than the more manicured sections near downtown — rawer, and oddly beautiful.
Morris Park Schools
Morris Park is served by Minneapolis Public Schools. The neighborhood's own elementary, Morris, closed in 2007; Lake Nokomis Community School's Keewaydin and Wenonah campuses are about a mile to the northwest and west.
Families can also use the Minneapolis Public Schools open enrollment system, attending programs across the district based on interest and availability.
Morris Park Real Estate & Housing
Morris Park had the lowest median sale price of any neighborhood in the Nokomis community in 2025, reflecting the neighborhood's position at the city's edge, away from south Minneapolis's more celebrated commercial and cultural corridors.
Buying in Morris Park
The median sale price in 2025 was $310,000 across 64 sales, according to Minneapolis Area REALTORS — below the Nokomis community median of $381,000 and the citywide $350,000. The housing stock is older and modest in size, and condition varies. Buyers should budget for potential renovation needs on homes that may not have been updated in decades.
Rental Market
Rental options are limited. Only about 13 percent of households rent, and the median rent across all unit sizes was about $1,640 in the Census's 2020–2024 estimates.
Getting Around Morris Park
Morris Park is car-dependent for most daily needs. The Walk Score of 40 and Transit Score of 49 reflect limited commercial options and bus service. The Bike Score of 47 reflects modest cycling infrastructure, with river trail access a short ride away.
Bus service is available but less frequent than in denser neighborhoods. Route 7 stops at 34th Avenue and 58th Street, on the west edge, and runs north past 46th Street Station and up Minnehaha Avenue to downtown. The Blue Line's VA Medical Center station is about a quarter mile east of the neighborhood, across 46th Avenue. Downtown Minneapolis is approximately 10-15 minutes by car. The Crosstown through the south end and Highway 55 just to the east provide reasonable driving access despite the neighborhood's isolated feeling.
Biking is a practical option for reaching the rest of south Minneapolis, with surface streets and the river and Minnehaha Creek trails providing connections north to downtown and west to the lakes.
What's Changing: The Honest Version
Morris Park faces a set of tensions common to small, edge-of-the-city neighborhoods in growing cities.
Highway Neighbors
The Crosstown, which runs through the south end of Morris Park, generates noise and truck traffic. Living next to a freeway is a daily reality that some residents accept and others find wearing. The balance between residential quality of life and regional traffic is an ongoing negotiation.
Price Pressure
Prices have climbed here too, if more slowly than nearby. Morris Park's median sale price went from $285,000 in 2021 to $310,000 in 2025, by Minneapolis Area REALTORS figures, while the Nokomis community as a whole went from $340,000 to $381,000. Rising prices are mostly good news for existing homeowners and concerning for the neighborhood's historical accessibility.
Infrastructure and Connectivity
Morris Park's isolation — the city limit on two sides and the Crosstown across its south end — limits connectivity to the rest of the city. Improved bike and pedestrian connections to the broader south Minneapolis network would benefit residents.
Morris Park FAQ
Is Morris Park a good neighborhood in Minneapolis?
Morris Park is a small, affordable, and relatively quiet pocket in far south Minneapolis. It's a good fit for people who want quiet streets with Minnehaha Falls, Lake Nokomis, and the river a short bike ride away. The Crosstown running through the south end and limited commercial options are trade-offs, but for the right buyer or renter, Morris Park offers genuine value.
Is Morris Park safe?
Morris Park is generally safe, with crime rates near or slightly below the Minneapolis average. The small size and residential character contribute to a sense of security. As with any Minneapolis neighborhood, basic urban awareness applies.
How much does it cost to live in Morris Park?
Morris Park is affordable for south Minneapolis. The median home sale price in 2025 was $310,000, the lowest of any neighborhood in the Nokomis community, according to Minneapolis Area REALTORS. Only about 13 percent of households rent, and the median rent across all unit sizes was about $1,640 in the 2020–2024 Census estimates.
Where exactly is Morris Park in Minneapolis?
Morris Park is a small neighborhood in the far southeast corner of Minneapolis, part of the Nokomis community, bounded roughly by East 54th Street to the north, 46th Avenue South and the city limit to the east, the city limit beyond the Crosstown (Highway 62) to the south, and 34th Avenue South to the west. It sits south of Minnehaha and east of Wenonah. On the east and south it's bordered by the unincorporated Fort Snelling territory, giving it an edge-of-the-city feeling.
What schools serve Morris Park?
Minneapolis Public Schools serves the area. The neighborhood's own elementary, Morris, closed in 2007; Lake Nokomis Community School's Keewaydin and Wenonah campuses are about a mile to the northwest and west. Families can also apply to programs across the district through Minneapolis Public Schools open enrollment.
Is Morris Park walkable?
Morris Park has limited walkability for commercial needs — there are very few businesses within the neighborhood. The Walk Score of 40 reflects the residential character. Walking the quiet streets and the trails at nearby Minnehaha Park is excellent for recreation, but for shopping and dining, you'll need to travel to neighboring areas.
Can you access the Mississippi River from Morris Park?
Yes, though it isn't on the doorstep. The Mississippi is under half a mile past the neighborhood's northeast corner, beyond Highway 55 and Minnehaha Regional Park, and about a mile from the middle of the neighborhood. Minnehaha Park's trails lead down to the river, offering walking, biking, and scenic views of the gorge.
Is Morris Park gentrifying?
Morris Park has seen some price appreciation as south Minneapolis overall has become more popular, but gentrification pressures are less intense here than in neighborhoods with more visible arts and dining scenes.
What Makes Morris Park Worth Knowing
Morris Park is one of those neighborhoods that exists in the margins — literally, out at the city's southeast corner, where Minneapolis stops at 46th Avenue — and in the margins of the city's attention. Most Minneapolitans have never been here. Most couldn't find it on a map. That invisibility is not entirely a disadvantage. It keeps prices low and keeps the neighborhood's character authentic in a way that more popular areas struggle to maintain.
What you get in Morris Park is simple: affordable homes in a small community at the edge of the city, with Minnehaha Falls, Lake Nokomis, and the river within reach. The Crosstown is not for everyone. The isolation is not for everyone. But for people who value affordability, quiet, and proximity to the parks and the river over walkable restaurants and hip coffee shops, Morris Park is a genuine find in a city where genuine finds are increasingly rare.
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