Rossville

The Rossville neighborhood in Staten Island has new feel with young trees, bright white curbs, and patches of pitch black pavement. The southwest part of the area is rich in history and is known as one of the first free black communities in the country. The southwest portion of Rossville is commonly called Sandy Ground.

The quiet setting of Rossvile is drawing young families to the neighborhood. Duplexes and a few Virgin Mary shrines line the main drag, Rossville Avenue. Older ranches and colonials pepper the side streets, although newer colonials and semi-attached homes have taken over some blocks. Woodbrooke Estates and Fawn Ridge, two town-house condominium developments at the center of the neighborhood, have the most affordable housing.

A major shopping center on Woodrow Road has a post office, a grocery store and several restaurants. In mid-spring, it is easy to see why residents of other boroughs might be tempted to move to Rossville. Bradford pear trees line the streets, blossoming white under a comparatively big sky.

Looking for something to do in Rossville, Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve, at the southwestern edge of Rossville, offers horseback riding lessons. Bloomingdale Park has well-kept ball fields and close to 100 acres of preserved land with trails for exploring.