On October 10th, 2024 Hudson River Park Friends hosted its annual Gala to celebrate the four-mile-long sanctuary that is Hudson River Park. The Gala raised over $2.5 Million for essential park care and initiatives.Β
This night unified New Yorkers for one reason: to support and celebrate each person, company, and contributor of Hudson River Park. The nearly $2.6 million will support the park’s 400+ free events and programs, maintenance, and education programs, and care for new park areas such as the Pier 26 Science Playground, Gansevoort Peninsula, and Pier 97.
An important emphasis of the night was that Hudson River Park is not a City-run park. The park has a public/private relationship that delegates public funds to design and build the park and private funds to maintain and program it.
As flourishing as the facilities are now, 25 years ago, Hudson River Park was a deteriorated waterfront. We spoke with New York City Council Member Erik Bottcher, who called Hudson River Park “one of the great jewels of New York City.”
“If you had come here right where we’re standing 25 years ago you would never have imagined the kind of beauty that would be here. It’s just an extraordinary success story.”
Bottcher, who represents District 3, said he can’t imagine the West Side without Hudson River Park and all that it provides to the community.
A Closer Look at the Gala
Desi Lydic, a writer, producer, and Emmy Award-nominated actress, hosted the Gala. The festivities began with carpet photos, cocktails, and oysters by the Carousel at Pier 62.
Following the cocktail hour, guests were escorted to Pier Sixty by a jazz band and performers from the Juilliard School. At Pier Sixty, guests enjoyed dinner and the evening’s awards. There was an open bar highlighting the night’s specialty cocktails: an Apple-Jack Old Fashioned and a Pear Thyme Spritz.
As guests sat down, appetizer plates of Shrimp Jardiniere were set, and soon after, guests were served the evening’s delicious and beautifully plated entree, Branzino Provencal.
The Gala honored the Terminal Warehouse Development Team, Matt Bomer and Simon Halls, and Alex and Miles Pincus. Each honoree gave a speech and shared what Hudson River Park means to them.
Bomer and Halls told attendees, “it’s meant everything to us. We have so many incredible memories at Hudson River Park. We are so honored to be recognized by an organization that will make sure that future generations for years to come will have the opportunity to enjoy Hudson River Park as much as we do.”
The room roared excitedly when Auctioneer Gabriel Butu began the live auction and paddle raise! Up for grabs were invaluable experiences like a foodie and wine lover’s dream aboard Grand Banks, a luxury travel experience in the Maldives and Paris in springtime for the 2025 French Open.
To end the night, Andy Bell of Erasure got guests on their feet dancing and singing to some of his top hits. It was indeed a night to remember and a clear example of Hudson River Park is importance to New Yorkers.
