Yolanda García Park

NYC PARKS UNVEILS NEW $6.6 MILLION CONSTRUCTION OF YOLANDA GARCIA PARK, FORMERLY MELROSE COMMONS PARK

NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP, yesterday joined Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., City Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Nos Quedamos President and CEO Jessica Clemente, Bronx Community Board 3 District Manager John Dudley, Bronx Community Board 1 District Manager Cedric Loftin, students and staff from P.S. 29, and community members to cut the ribbon on the new Yolanda Garcia Park.

The $6.6 million project was funded by a $4.8 million allocation from Mayor Bill de Blasio, $1.2 million from Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., and $500,000 from Council Member Rafael Salamanca Jr.

“NYC Parks is proud to unveil this beautiful new greenspace for the Melrose community, and honor their wishes by naming it Yolanda Garcia Park,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP. “We are pleased the park was completed both early and under budget, and we know it will be loved by the community for many years to come.”

The new Yolanda Garcia Park includes a playground, spray shower area, shade elements, a diversity of passive seating areas, a drinking fountain, large green spaces and an adult fitness area. The design also includes fencing, security lighting, and a fully accessible comfort station. The playground is comprised of ADA accessible toddler and preschool elements, and more challenging climbers for older children.

"Yolanda would have done anything for this community, so this park is the perfect way to honor her. She had a vision of a central park for everyone to enjoy and now children for generations to come are going to benefit from her legacy. Thank you so much to all of the stakeholders who made this happen with your advocacy and funding efforts," said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

“The Melrose community has much to celebrate with the opening of the Yolanda Garcia Park,” stated Council Member Rafael Salamanca. “In addition to new green space and playgrounds for Bronxites of all ages to enjoy, we are honoring a true pillar of the community; Yolanda Garcia. The transformation from a vacant lot to a beautiful park is a testament to Yolanda’s vision for the neighborhood, and I am proud to have worked with the administration and Borough President Diaz to secure 6.6 million in funding to make this park a reality.”

The park is named in honor of Yolanda Garcia, a well-known and widely respected community activist. Yolanda Garcia’s contributions as the founding member of Nos Quedamos/We Stay, continue to make a lasting impact on the Bronx and NYC Parks.