Central Park

The Daily Plant : Tuesday, April 22, 2003

CENTRAL PARK FILLED WITH SPRINGTIME CHEER

On Saturday, April 19, the sun was shining and Central Park was full of happy New Yorkers. It was, of course, Easter Eggstravaganza! The 57^th annual rite of spring was sponsored by Starburst Jellybeans and it is estimated that as many as 65,000 people attended the event. Among many fun and free activities, the event featured New York City’s largest Easter egg hunt with 35,000 Starburst Jellybean-filled eggs at Bethesda Terrace. The lower 40 acres of Central Park were transformed into a celebration of springtime.

"Easter Eggstravaganza is the unofficial start of spring," said Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe. "Central Park was hopping with activity on Saturday as thousands of kids participated in dozens of free activities covering 40 acres of this beautiful park."

Children of all ages lined up to participate in free activities and arts and crafts including egg dyeing, build-your-own-basket, face painting, tissue paper flower making and necklace making. At the Naumberg Bandshell, there was lots of entertainment that kept the crowd on its feet and dancing. The Broadway cast of "A Year with Frog and Toad" performed, along with Janet’s Dance Center, Young Dancers in Repertory, Jerry Joy Music, Robbie K and Friends, and a cappella groups from around the state. Walkabouts characters and a puppet show entertained children.

Another popular attraction was the petting zoo with pigs, ducks, bunnies, goats, and a pony. There were nine greenmarket vendors, along with information tables run by the Museum of Natural History, the Historic House Trust, and the Urban Park Rangers. Attendees were also able to try out in-line skating to the sounds of WKTU.

Easter Eggstravaganza was also sponsored by Western Union, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Pay-O-Matic, Viacom Outdoor, The New York Post, WKTU, Strawberry Shortcake and friends, WNET’s Cyberchase, Sesame Workshop’s Sagwa, Discovery Kids, Columbia Pictures’ Daddy Day Care, Ty, PAAS, New York Restaurant School, Wildlife Conservation Society, and Silver Dolphin’s Clara the Cow.

This year’s Easter Eggstravaganza was a huge success as seen on the many smiling faces. Thank you to all the recreation staff and volunteers for their hard work.

"There is… only a single categorical imperative and it is this:

Act only on that maxim through which you can at the same time

will that it should become a universal law."

(April 22, 1724-1804)

Know Before You Go

Harlem Meer Center (formerly Lasker Rink)

Harlem Meer Center