Carlos R. Lillo Park

How did this site become a park?
The land, which was formerly used as an industrial storage area, was acquired by NYC Parks in 2007. Dedicated the following year, the park’s design incorporates a central octagon surrounded on five sides by flowering trees, shrubs, and perennials, with open green space on the other three sides. Four benches are recessed in the planting beds and two game tables accommodate park visitors in a shady garden setting. 

Who is this park named for?
This park honors Carlos R. Lillo (1963-2001), a paramedic for the New York City Fire Department’s Emergency Medical Services Division who died while on duty on September 11, 2001 in the South Tower collapse. 

Born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, Lillo moved to New York City as a teenager. He began his career in emergency medicine as a volunteer with the Astoria Volunteer Ambulance Corps. In 1984, Lillo joined the city’s Emergency Medical Services as an emergency medical technician (EMT). He worked on a tactical unit in the Bronx during one of the most active times in EMS history. Pursuing his dream career, Lillo attained advanced life saving skills and became a paramedic in 1990. He had a strong belief in the profession and respect for those in the uniform. 

Lillo demonstrated his dedication and commitment to the citizens of the city as he performed his duties on September 11, 2001. He was one of two FDNY medics who died that day and is credited with saving scores of workers evacuate. Carlos R. Lillo Park honors not just one individual but serves as a touchstone for the many families who lost loved ones on 9/11, providing them and the community a place for solace and reflection.