Cpl Fischer Park

EMPTY LOT IN HIGHBRIDGE TRANSFORMED INTO CORPORAL FISCHER PARK

The $4.6 million project transformed Corporal Irwin Fischer Park from a fenced-off lot into a community greenspace with a playground, paths, seating, and more

Yesterday, NYC 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 School, representatives from The Bronx is Blooming, and other community members to cut the ribbon on the newly constructed Corporal Irwin Fischer Park in the Bronx.

“The transformation of Corporal Fischer Park is truly inspiring,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Sue 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 public greenspace 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.”

“Yesterday was a significant win for the West Bronx as we celebrated the ribbon cutting of a brand-new park in our Borough,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “As the former Council Member for the 16th District, the transformation of this empty lot into a greenspace 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, a toddler play area, and space to safely recreate without having to leave their neighborhood. I want to thank NYC Parks, Bronx Community Board 4, the Mayor`s Office, parks advocates, Highbridge residents, and everyone else involved for their partnership in making this possible.”

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 over $4.6 million from the Office of the Mayor. 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.

The park is named after Corporal Irwin A. Fischer (d.1944), a World War II veteran who died in the line of duty. Fischer enlisted in the United States 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.