Hudson River Park Gala 2023
Hudson River Park continues to be one of the most vibrant spaces in New York City. I encourage you to visit the next time you're in the area - you will see why it is so special.
Hudson River Park is considered the largest open space project in Manhattan since Central Park. At four miles long, it is the longest waterfront park in the country and attracts millions of visitors each year. I am very proud to be on the Board of Hudson River Park Friends - an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to the development, care, and enhancement of the space, and the designated fundraising partner of the Hudson River Park Trust. Earlier this week, hundreds of dedicated supporters gathered to celebrate the park’s continued growth at the 25th annual Hudson River Park Gala. The evening included cocktails followed by dinner, a live auction and a musical performance at Manhattan's Chelsea Piers overlooking the Hudson River. It was a beautiful evening and a successful event.
Enjoy these photos.
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- I am a very big supporter of the Hudson River Park – my family and I have spent lots of time enjoying its playgrounds and waterfront views. This is historic Pier 57. The public rooftop, with its incredible views of Little Island and New York Harbor, opened in 2022. (Photo courtesy of HudsonRiverPark.org)
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- Just south of Manhattan’s 14th Street is a new Hudson River Park pier known as Little Island. It is a free public Park pier within the larger Hudson River Park, which opened to the public in May 2021. (Photo courtesy of HudsonRiverPark.org)
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- Another beautiful place for visitors to sit, relax and enjoy the spectacular city views is Pier 76. Tanneries, meat-packing plants, and horse barns surrounded the area in the 1800s attracting laborers and dock workers seeking employment. In the years following, the waterfront became a major freight hub and transatlantic travel station. Today, Pier 76 is a public, open space with new pavement, railings, lighting, seating, decorative paint, plants and interpretive plaques focused on the pier’s history and ecology. (Photo courtesy of HudsonRiverPark.org)
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- This is the new Gansevoort Peninsula – the largest stand-alone recreational space in Hudson River Park. It features 5.5 acres with a sandy shoreline beach, ball field, pine grove, boardwalks, adult fitness equipment, and a salt marsh. (Photo courtesy of HudsonRiverPark.org)
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- And this is Chelsea Waterside, which shows the expansion of green, planted spaces. (Photo courtesy of HudsonRiverPark.org)
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- Interesting and beautiful specimens are all over Hudson River Park. This is a portion of the Greenwich Village Esplanade planted with Zelcova trees, a hardwood tree in the elm family.
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- Every year, I make it a point to attend the Hudson River Park Gala in New York City. It is a fun evening and an important fundraising event to support the Park’s operations and public programming, including its year-round educational, environmental, sustainability and cultural programs.
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- The host was comedian, writer, and actor, Ronny Chieng.
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- The event honored Susanna Aaron, television producer and HRPF Board Citizen Advocate Secretary, for her dedication to the park. This year, Turner Construction Company was also honored.
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- Chair of Hudson River Park Trust Board of Directors, Diana Taylor also addressed the audience.
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- George Pataki, the 53rd Governor of the State of New York was also in attendance.
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- The dinner’s menu included this tomato tarte tatin with goat cheese, caramelized onions, olives, arugula, shaved fennel salad.
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- Our entrée was a Chatham day boat cod with tri-fingerling potatoes, grilled corn, carrots, leeks, charred lemon, lovage, creamy Chardonnay soubise and on the side, poppadom crisp.
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- Our dessert was an assortment of sweets presented on a tray for each table.
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- Here I am with Ronny and his wife, Hannah Pham. All the guests were encouraged to wear “silver anniversary accents” to commemorate the nonprofit’s 25-years of dedication to improving the city’s Hudson River Park. Do you follow me on Instagram @MarthaStewart48? I showed photos of this beautiful silver dress designed and made by my friend, Andy Chia Yu.
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- Our table, #31, was quite full. Several colleagues and friends joined me including these three Ryans – Ryan Conway, Ryan Mesina, and Ryan McCallister.
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- Here’s Daisy Schwartzberg Toye, and Ben Luckadoo.
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- And here’ Patsy Pollack and Kevin Sharkey.
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- Everyone took photos to post on their personal social media pages. Here’s another fun snapshot – Ryan, Zaki Kamandy, Hosanna Houser, Ryan, and Ben.
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- It was a very lovely evening for all. I encourage you to visit New York City’s Hudson River Park. It is a spectacular space.
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