West Harrison

West Harrison is a neighborhood in the town of Harrison. Most notably, the Westchester County Airport occupies a very large section of the area.

Like many parts of Westchester, the area saw fighting during the Revolutionary War. In October 1776, British and American troops fought the Battle of White Plains, which actually occurred in West Harrison. The British prevailed, and chased General Washington and his men into New Jersey and Pennsylvania until Washington’s historic Delaware River crossing and the Battle of Trenton.

The Cross Westchester Expressway, also known as Interstate 287, borders part of West Harrison, but it has an otherwise wide-open atmosphere, not unlike the larger town of Harrison. There are a few small businesses, but no centralized shopping district. However, White Plains is a short ride away via I-287.

Silver Lake Preserve also occupies a 236-acre portion of the neighborhood. The Westchester-county owned park is mostly undeveloped, with trails for hiking and nature study. Though there is a small lake, fishing is not permitted. Because it’s part of the town of Harrison, West Harrison residents can take advantage of the many recreational programs, which include day and specialty camps, and sports programs for adults. Delfino Park, West Harrison Park and West Harrison Pool are facilities run by the recreation department.

All of West Harrison is located in the Harrison Central School District. At the elementary level they attend S.J. Preston Elementary, which is located in the neighborhood, and later attend Louis M. Klein Middle School and Harrison High School.

Real estate prices in West Harrison mirror those in Harrison, with most of the inventory in the neighborhood of a million dollars. There are a limited number of co-op apartments. Smaller, more modestly priced homes are more expensive than they would be if located in less prestigious towns.

West Harrison is not even a hamlet – it’s either a community or a neighborhood, depending on who you talk to, but either way it’s a nice little area of Harrison bounded by geography and I-287. There is just one main road winding through a residential area, with Silver Lake Park on one side and a small business district on the other. There is a second park, the Passidomo Veterans Memorial Park and Pool. The Leo Mintzer Center, a very nice community recreational center, is here as well.

Harrison has four elementary schools, and the Preston School serves West Harrison. Several years ago, Fordham University opened its Westchester campus on 32 acres here. West Harrison is low-key and working-class, a place where many families have been here for generations, and where neighbors look out for each other.

The Town of Harrison is 30 miles northeast of Manhattan, close to Long Island sound, and 5 miles from the border of Connecticut. Here you will find both grand estates and working-class homes, private country clubs and public parks, elegant restaurants and affordable family bistros, all thanks to the expansion of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad in 1870. Immigrants, mostly Italian, built the railroad, which subsequently brought the wealthy here from New York City. The immigrants stayed to build and work on the estates, and today their descendents make up the largest ethnic group in Harrison.

This is a genteel yet busy area, as would befit a place so close to New York City. Purchase is home to Manhattanville College, located on the 700-acre former estate of Whitelaw Reid, publisher of the New York Tribune, and now on the National Register of Historic Places; SUNY Purchase; and Keio Academy, a high school affiliated with Keio Academy in Tokyo.

Thanks to the tax base, quite a bit of which is paid for by the dozen corporations located in Harrison, the schools and their facilities are excellent. All together there are 8 parks totaling 80 acres, with playgrounds, basketball courts, pools, and a bocce court.

St. Vincent’s Hospital Westchester, part of St. Joseph’s medical center, is located in right in Harrison, as is the Scarsdale Medical Group.

Harrison’s recreation department is both active and creative. Besides the regular array of sports teams, they offer ballroom dancing, drawing and cartoon making, pottery painting, a Lego class, and the chance to learn Italian, in whatever age group you may be. There are spring egg hunts, Halloween programs, summer concerts, sports tournaments, and, with a nod to the large and close-knit Italian community, an “It’s great to live in Harrison/Columbus Day Celebration” which is held in October. There are two community centers, the Sollazzo Center and the Leo Mintzer Center, both splendidly equipped to keep everyone from teenagers to senior citizens busy and occupied.

The Harrison Youth Council provides educational programs, parent support groups, counseling, consultation, and referral to families dealing with drug and alcohol problems, collaborating with the schools and professionals to achieve their mission.

There is not much to do in West Harrison itself, but you’re not far from Harrison, which is one of the few Westchester towns that actually has a nightlife. You are also close to White Plains, and of course, New York City. West Harrison is far more affordable than its surrounding areas, and its community spirit makes it a nice place to raise kids.

West Harrison is a small section of the larger Town/Village of Harrison. Like the larger community it is an affluent Westchester neighborhood that offers a serene and secluded lifestyle. The woods and the natural beauty of the area draw many a nature lover and the relatively easy Metro North train commute from the Harrison station makes it a nice bedroom community for many who work in Manhattan.

The good reputation of the schools draws parents to this neighborhood. Its physical location gives this community an above average degree of seclusion making it seem tucked away among the hills! All this makes for a strong sense of community. The shopping and dining here can seem limited but there are plenty of choices in Harrison and nearby White Plains. The local restaurants that have a good reputation include Aquario, 97 Lake and Trevi Ristorante. For a casual observer or visitor West Harrison exemplifies the iconic well-off suburb.

There is another facet to West Harrison though - it centers around Buckout Street and the many interesting urban legends surrounding this street. There are stories of albinos and witches and slaughters associated with this area which makes it a popular place for a teen dare. Now with the news that the the screenplay for a movie based on Buckout Street has been purchased, there is a real possibility that this winding street in a quiet suburb may acquire a national reputation! Whether it acquires cult status or remains a trivia answer, the stories about this street definitely give West Harrison an unusual status!

West Harrison is actually a community/neighborhood just south of the ritzy hamlet of Purchase in the town/village of Harrison. Merritts Hill in West Harrison was the site of the important Battle of White Plains during the American Revolutionary War. West Harrison is somewhat isolated due to the fact that it is surrounded by two steep hills, a cliff, a lake and Interstate 287. There is only one actual road that leads into West Harrison and that is Lake Street. On the left side of the street is the ever-popular Silver Lake Park which has well-used playing fields where lively little league games are played with plenty of spirted sports lovers and vocal parents. It is actually a wonderfully wholesome atmosphere. Across the street from that very park, is a very small business district where you will find 97 Lake, a cheerful sports cafe and restaurant replete with wide screen tv's, a full bar and delcious sweet potato fries. Also on that strip is Silver Lake Deli and Pizzeria and nearby you will find Trevi Ristorante with its delcious brick oven pizza and a Salumeria. Harrison is also home to Veterans Memorial Park with athletic fields, picnic pavillions and playgrounds. Delfino Park, which is technically located in White Plains, is just two minutes away, and I spent a lot of tiime there in my youth at the wonderful, now covered, Ebersole Ice Rank. The park also has a wall to practice tennis, picnic tables, grills, softball fields and tennis courts.

Another great West Harrison resource is the Leo Mintzer Community Center with has a nice gym, a game room with table tennis, foos ball, billiards and air hocket, as well as a TV room with cable, a Playstation and a wii system. Participation in any of the center's activities are open to Harrison residents who hold a valid park and rec. id card.

West Harrison is quite safe and the crime rate is very low. People tend to look out for one another in this community and it is pretty tight-knit and family-friendly. There is a definite sense of community and neighborliness.