“Roni loved fruit, and she loved children,” says Eyal Eshel, father of Roni Eshel, the IDF surveillance observer who was murdered on October 7, 2023, by Hamas terrorists. In August 2024, Eshel and his family opened Park Roni, a four-dunam public park in the heart of their hometown of Tzur Yitzchak in central Israel. The park includes a trail, children’s treehouses, picnic areas, two community garden beds with herbs, and 100 fruit trees that produce grapefruits, lemons, afghan strawberries, pears, loquats, and carobs.
“The entire park is for children and adults who seek quiet and serenity and is a magical corner in the heart of Tzur Yitzchak,” says Eyal.
In addition to the fruit trees, greenery, and play areas, Park Roni features two observation posts donated by the Defense Ministry, which contain the same type of equipment that Roni operated in her post at the Nahal Oz military base. Tomorrow evening, October 7, at 6 PM at Park Roni, the family will commemorate their daughter’s memory and life.
The family is currently seeking funds to expand and build the second section of the park, which will include seating areas for students, a coffee cart, and additional areas for children. Construction is expected to begin after the holidays, and Eshel anticipates that it will be completed by late January or early February.
“The pain of what took place on October 7 is present every day,” says Eyal, “but is especially felt in the hours before the anniversary, and it will continue to affect us all, not just for ourselves, the bereaved family, but for the entire State of Israel, which experienced a tragedy of biblical proportions on that day. I want everyone to remember Roni’s smile and understand that her entire being was about giving. She also had a sense of responsibility — she felt responsible to stay at her post until the very last minute. That’s the kind of responsibility I expect from our leaders, and that’s the type of responsibility I expect from officers in the army — to truly embody that word. Those who were responsible for what happened on October 7 should take responsibility and step down, because they are not worthy.”
Click here to donate to the expansion of Park Roni.