The Playground Partners held a celebratory afternoon picnic to kick off their three-weeklong Family Scavenger Hunt. The spring event raised over $165,000 in essential funds to support the daily upkeep and ongoing care of Central Park’s 21 playgrounds, which provide New York children and families safe and accessible areas to play. 

The interactive family-friendly event at the Heckscher picnic area, generously sponsored by Nordstrom, engaged families in a rediscovery of Central Park. As part of the kick-off, families gathered and enjoyed picnic baskets filled with gourmet food from Nordstrom NYC’s Wolf Restaurant. Bespoke floral arrangements were crafted live with the Pop-Up Florist which complemented the custom floral archway that graced the picnic area as a special photo-op. Entertainment was also provided for the whole family. 

Hosted by event co-chairs Michelle Auerbach, Lizzie Boswell, Krista Corl, Tiffany Gardner, and Susannah Rose, and Playground Partners Committee Co-Chairs Katherine Birch and Samantha Topping Gellert and Vice-Chair Heather McAuliffe, attendees included Women’s Committee President Yesim Philip as well as Gillian Hearst, Marie-Noelle Pierce and Sarah Kurita and more.