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The City transferred the park site to the ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵ pursuant to the Chicago Park and City Exchange of Functions Act of 1957, but it remained undeveloped until around 1970, when the Park District improved it with playground equipment, a basketball court, a curved walkway, and a short stone wall for seating. The park’s size nearly doubled in size when on May 29, 2002, the City Council passed an ordinance that approved sections of 45^th Street and S. Hamlin Avenue be attached to the park as additional green space.

Originally designated Walnut Park in 1973, the park was one of many properties named for trees and plants at the time. The park was renamed Irma C. Ruiz Park in 2008.  Officer Irma C. Ruiz graduated from the Chicago Police Academy on October 1, 1976, and was among the first female officers assigned to the Grand Crossing District.  On September 22, 1988, Officer Ruiz and her partner were assigned to the Harrison Area’s Youth Division, and were responding to a call at the Moses Montefiore School for assistance with an unruly student.  While Officers Ruiz and Jaglowski were in the school, a heavily-armed gunman burst into the school after fatally shooting two persons across the street and the school custodian outside the school.  Upon seeing the officers, the gunman opened fire, fatally striking Officer Ruiz in the chest.  Although seriously wounded, Officer Jaglowski returned fire, killing the offender.  The presence of Officer Ruiz at the school at that moment likely prevented many more deaths, including schoolchildren, that day.

During her twelve-year careen on the force, Officer Ruiz had received a department commendation, three honorable mentions, and had four complimentary letters in her personnel file.  In addition to being a well-regarded and respected member of the Police Department, Officer Ruiz is remembered as being a loving wife and a devoted mother of four, and a caring member of her Beverly community.  She was the third female officer to be killed in the line of duty.