Firefighter Gregory T. Saucedo Triangle

This text is part of Parks’ Historical Signs Project and can be found posted within the park.

What was here before?

This site in Flatlands , is one of the original five Dutch towns of Brooklyn. John Williamson (1797-1881) once farmed this land and was one of the founders of a temperance church—The New Lots Church. Established in 1824 and landmarked in 1966, the building still stands today on the corner of New Lots Avenue and Schenck Avenue.

How did this become a park?

This triangle is one of the thousands of properties throughout the city called Greenstreets, which belong to the Department of Transportation and are maintained by NYC Parks. In 2002, Local Law 28 named this space for Firefighter Gregory Saucedo.

Who is this park named for?

Firefighter Gregory T. Saucedo (1969–2001) was a lifelong resident of this neighborhood and served eleven years in the FDNY. He lost his life on September 11, 2001, while helping people escape the World Trade Center after the attack.

During his youth, Saucedo, his three older brothers, his cousins, and his friends who played here referred to this space simply as “The Triangle.” He attended P.S. 236 Roy H. Mann and South Shore High School, where he captained the football team and developed a passion for weightlifting. He earned a degree in education from Brooklyn College but chose to pursue firefighting alongside three childhood friends. At the Fire Academy, he set a record with 105 push-ups in one minute.

In 1991, Saucedo began his FDNY career with Engine 321 in Marine Park, allowing him to stay close to his community. He often responded to emergencies in his own neighborhood and was known locally for his willingness to help with anything from fixing cars to shoveling snow.

In 1998, he transferred to Ladder 5 in Greenwich Village and later began studying for the Lieutenant’s exam in his tenth year of service. On 9/11, he was last seen climbing the stairs of One World Trade Center, running toward danger to save others. He died in the collapse along with many first responders and civilians.

His brother Stephen, who joined the FDNY in 2000, and the friends who trained with him, searched Ground Zero for weeks. Only his flashlight was recovered.