A $4.6 million project has transformed Corporal Irwin Fischer Park from a fenced-off lot into a community green space with a playground, paths, seating and more.
On Monday, New York City Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue joined Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, Judge John Howard-Algarin, Bronx Community Board 4, teachers and students from the nearby P.S. 011 Highbridge and Sacred Heart schools, representatives from The Bronx is Blooming and other community members to cut the ribbon on the newly constructed Corporal Irwin Fischer Park.
“The transformation of Corporal Fischer Park is truly inspiring,” said Donoghue. “Just a few years ago, this park was a fenced-off lot with no seating, landscaping or public access. Now, this park has been completely reimagined as a beautiful green space with amenities for New Yorkers of all ages. This project underscores our commitment at NYC Parks to making high quality, safe, public parks available to all New Yorkers.”
The new 0.57-acre park has no record of previous development. Constructed as part of the Jerome Avenue Rezoning Initiative, the project was funded by more than $4.6 million from Mayor Eric Adams. As part of the construction project, the park now contains a plaza space, a play area for children ages 2-5, an upper seating area that also serves as a lookout point, a lower seating area and an accessible path that connects the upper and lower portions of the site.
“Yesterday was a significant win for the West Bronx as we celebrated the ribbon cutting of a brand new park in our Borough,” said Gibson. “As the former council member for the 16th District, the transformation of this empty lot into a green space for our community was a top priority of mine as part of the Jerome Neighborhood Plan, and I am excited to see this project come to fruition. Our residents and families deserve the best and will now get to enjoy a new playground with a toddler play area and space to safely recreate without having to leave their neighborhood.”
The park is named after Cpl. Irwin A. Fischer, a World War II veteran who died in the line of duty in 1944. Fischer enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the 75th Joint Assault Signal Company of the Army Air Corps. His company flew in Saipan, Iwo Jima, New Guinea, the Marshall Islands and the Philippines.
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