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2019 HRPK Gala Celebrates Park’s Four Beautiful Seasons and Community Impact

On Thursday, October 17, Hudson River Park’s Annual Gala celebrated HRPK’s four miles of open green space and the diverse educational and cultural opportunities the Park brings our community. With the final 25% of the Park now under design and construction, there was much cause for festivity at this year’s event. Eight hundred of HRPK’s most dedicated supporters and leaders toasted all the Park has achieved and the unprecedented growth ahead, helping us raise nearly $3 million to benefit the future of NYC’s west side backyard.

We kicked off the evening with cocktails at the stunning, brand new Cipriani South Street. The evening’s decor by Raul Avila paid homage to the year-round beauty of the Park, each table – and each section of the evening’s program – elegantly evoking one of HRPK’s four seasons.

NYC Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg is honored at the Hudson River Park Gala

The evening’s dinner program abounded with moments of laughter, music and festivity. Host Sandra Bernhard kept guests entertained throughout the evening as we celebrated our three esteemed honorees – Michael R. Bloomberg, Founder of Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies and 108th Mayor of New York; David Chang, Chef/Founder, Momofuku; and Lucy Liu, Actress/Artist/Director – whose remarks inspired the crowd and celebrated the Park’s positive impact on the environment and our community.

A lively auction led by Lydia Fenet brought cheers as bidders competed for lots from David Chang, Martha Stewart, Jon Bon Jovi, Nigel Barker and more. And we closed out the evening with a special performance by Jake Shears of Scissor Sisters, whose high-energy performance got the crowd moving.

Martha Stewart speaks to the crowd at the Hudson River Park Gala event

Thank you to our sponsors, Alexandria Real Estate, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Centaur Properties, Chicago Title Insurance Company, Hudson Yards, Katten, Lalezarian Properties, Midtown Equities and Newmark Knight Frank, and to all who attended and supported us in making the Hudson River Park Gala a momentous success. The generosity and dedication of our Park community helps keep HRPK beautiful, safe, clean and green, enhancing the lives of New Yorkers for many decades to come.

Want to get involved? There are many ways to help support New York City’s West Side backyard. Learn more!

For a glimpse of this special night, check out our 2019 HRPK Gala Gallery.