Raoul Wallenberg Forest

Raoul Wallenberg Forest is a four-acre nature preserve in the Riverdale section of the northwestern Bronx. Named for Raoul Wallenberg, the Swedish diplomat who saved tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews from the Holocaust by issuing protective passports and sheltering refugees in safe houses, the forest is both a memorial and a preserved natural area.

Wallenberg's heroism during the closing months of World War II saved an estimated 100,000 lives. He was captured by Soviet forces in January 1945 and is believed to have died in Soviet custody, though the exact circumstances of his death remain uncertain. He was posthumously honored as a Righteous Among the Nations by Israel.

The forest preserves a remnant of the native woodland that once covered the Riverdale hillsides, with mature hardwood trees, understory plants, and the wildlife they support. The forest's undeveloped character provides a contemplative natural setting appropriate to its memorial function.

Riverdale's affluent residential character and abundant natural areas make it one of the greenest neighborhoods in the Bronx. The Wallenberg Forest contributes to this green landscape while adding a layer of historical and moral significance.

Raoul Wallenberg Forest honors a man whose courage saved thousands of lives, providing a living memorial in a natural setting where the growth of the forest itself symbolizes the renewal of life that Wallenberg's actions made possible.