Jackie Robinson Park Playground

The Daily Plant : Wednesday, October 29, 2003

NEW YORKERS CELEBRATED HALLOWEEN EARLY THIS YEAR WITH THE GREAT NEW YORK CITY HALLOWEEN PA

On Saturday, October 25, parks across New York City were filled with Halloween spirit. The Great New York City Halloween Party allows New Yorkers to celebrate Halloween with a wide variety of free activities including parades, haunted walks, hayrides, pumpkin painting, arts & crafts, greenmarkets and live performances. Newmark & Company Real Estate, Inc. was the sponsor of Halloween celebrations happening in all five boroughs during the two weeks leading up to Halloween.

In Central Park, the landmark site of Parks & Recreation’s Halloween bash, children of all ages enjoyed costume making, in-line skating, live performances, and a greenmarket. They were entertained by Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck walkabout characters as well as a professional pumpkin carver. On what was a beautiful fall day, about 10,000 New Yorkers were in the park getting excited for Halloween.

"We have Newmark & Company Real Estate, Inc. to thank for today’s festivities," Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe said in Central Park on Saturday. "Their generous sponsorship has made this event and events all over the city a success."

In Van Cortlandt Park about 4,000 took part in a haunted walk, listened to scary stories, got their faces painted, and picked a pumpkin from a pumpkin patch. Many children came to the park dressed in their costumes as a warm up to the big day. There was also Halloween festivities in Juniper Valley Park in Queens and Prospect Park in Brooklyn – a long tradition for Brooklynites.

The fun isn’t over yet, however. Tonight is the "Halloween Spooktacular Party Uptown" at Manhattan’s Jackie Robinson Park and Recreation Center from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. On Friday, October 31, Owl’s Head Park in Brooklyn will host "Owl’s Head Halloween Happenings" from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Also on Friday, Staten Islanders can enjoy "The Great Pumpkin Rides Again" at Cromwell Recreation Center from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

To learn more about park festivities, visit www.nyc.gov/parks or call 311.

"Good night, good night! parting is such sweet sorrow,

That I shall say good night till it be morrow."

(1564-1616)