Sergeant Carmine Liotti and Private First Class Lloyd Ikefugi. Two names etched in history. Two Staten Island boys who gave their lives for their country. This is Liotti-Ikefugi Playground. Their sacrifice is honored here.
This playground isn’t just swings and slides. It’s a memorial a place of remembrance. It stands on land once holding a reservoir. Built in the 1930s it served Staten Island. In 1935 the Parks Department took over. They filled the reservoir. They created a playing field. Then they built this playground.
Originally it bore a different name. William Winter a local writer poet and journalist. The playground initially honored him. But in 1961 that changed. Local Law 61 renamed it. It became Liotti-Ikefugi Playground. A fitting tribute to two fallen heroes.
Carmine Liotti a football star. He joined the army right after high school. He became a medic in the 319th Infantry. He died in Germany in April 1945. He was helping wounded soldiers. A grenade exploded. He died attending to the wounded.
Lloyd Ikefugi from New Brighton. He worked as a machinist. He was a scoutmaster. He joined the 442nd Infantry. A unit of Japanese-American soldiers. This unit fought bravely. They defied stereotypes. He died in action in Italy in April 1945. Less than a year after joining.
So next time you see the swings and slides at Liotti-Ikefugi Playground. Remember Carmine and Lloyd. Their stories live on. This playground keeps their memory alive. A small tribute to their immense sacrifice. A place where kids play. A place where heroes are remembered.