Estella Diggs Park

Estella Diggs Park is a 0.9-acre (0.36 ha) public park located in the Morrisania neighborhood of the Bronx, New York City. The park has an interesting history, having been transformed from a vacant lot that resulted from abandoned and demolished buildings in the 1960s.

The New York City Parks Department acquired the property in 1978, and it briefly served as a community garden before becoming vacant again. In 1990, additional lots were acquired, and the site was initially named Rocks and Roots Park.

In 2011, the park underwent a complete reconstruction by Nancy Owens Studio, which preserved its naturalistic contours while adding public gathering areas, handicapped-accessible walking paths, and landscaped gardens. On November 7, 2011, the park was renamed in honor of Estella Diggs, with a ceremony attended by Diggs herself, local community leaders, and a choir from her church.

The park's design incorporates the area's natural features, with gently sloping hills that evoke a Chinese landscape painting. The dramatic rock outcropping and topographical features make it a microcosm of the Bronx itself, reflecting the borough's rugged hills and green spaces.

In 2015, construction began on the lowland section of the park, expanding its lawns, paths, and seating areas. The park reopened to the public on August 29, 2017, after a $2 million expansion that added new pathways, seating areas, and play equipment to what was previously vacant space.

Estella Diggs Park serves as a tranquil urban oasis, offering a unique blend of natural beauty and community engagement in the heart of the Bronx.