Liotti-Ikefugi Playground is a small playground located in the neighborhood of Tompkinsville. The entrance of the park is on Winter Avenue between Bismark Avenue and Westervelt Ave.
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efore this lot was a playground, New York City used this land as a reservoir from 1909 to 1935. The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation took over this property in 1935 and filled the reservoir with dirt. This created a playing field for the local neighborhood. At this point in time, the park was named after William Winter.
In 1961, the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation renamed the park as Liotti-Ikefugi Playground. This park was renamed after Sergeant Carmine Liotti and Private First Class Lloyd Ikefugi. Both of these young men were Staten Islanders who were killed while serving in World War II in 1945.
Carmine Liotti was born and raised in New Brighton, Staten Island. He was listed as an all-star football player in the Journal of American Football while playing at McKee High School. Once he graduated from high school he joined the Army, where he became a medic. While in Germany, Carmine Liotti was helping injured soldiers when his vehicle was hit with a grenade. He received a Bronze Star for his dedication to the Army.
Lloyd Ikefugi was a Japanese-American who was born on Staten Island. He attended high school at Curtis High School and once he graduated, he became a machinist. In 1944, he joined the Army and became a member of the all Japanese-American 442nd Infantry. Just a short year later, in 1945, Lloyd Ikefugi was killed on duty. He received the Purple Heart award.
Since the park had been created, there have been many improvements to it. This park now holds swings, play equipment, basketball courts, and park benches.
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