CHILDREN’S STORYTELLING WEEK KICKS OFF SPECIAL PROGRAMS FOR SUTTON AREA KIDS!

The Sutton Place Parks Conservancy launched its new children’s initiative with a special week of Storytelling on the Promenade four days the week of August 22, 2022. Each day, 35 plus children delighted in hearing favorite read-aloud stories and singing along to fun tunes.  

Alecia Porterfield-Brock (at right), Senior Children’s Librarian at the East 58th Street branch, led the kids in stories, song, and dance two of the four days. For the delight of the kids, she brought along a stash of take-home free books. And, to begin young ones on a life-long love of reading, she gave out library card applications, so kids can access books and activities at the NYPL 58th Street branch.

Two SPPC volunteers took a turn leading Storytelling hour. Karen Nielsen, Co-Chair of the Events Committee (at left), read from picture books and had the kids do a craft activity. Adding to the fun, Karen’s two sons, Matthew and Wesley, acted out scenes from “Where the Wild Things Are.”

SPPC Volunteer Susan Holman (at right) closed out the week with a selection of read-aloud books and engaging songs that got the kids up and dancing.

Storytelling on the Promenade continues four Tuesdays in September 2022 at 11:00 am when librarians from the NYPL’s Children’s Center lead a program targeted to toddlers that features songs, rhymes, and favorite read-aloud books.

 Storytelling events are free to all participants.  Funds raised by the Sutton Place Parks Conservancy support special events held in the park throughout the year, including the second annual Sutton Halloween Spooktacular scheduled to take place October 29, 2022.

 Photo-credit: Maureen Berman

Celebrating Together and Looking Ahead!

After a two-year lapse because of the pandemic, the Conservancy celebrated its fifth
Garden Party on May 17, in the spacious indoor-outdoor Morso Restaurant on East 59th Street. Party goers enjoyed music by the Jovitra band as they gathered for delicious canapes passed around by Morso’s servers, and then enjoyed a delightful mixture of Italian specialties as they mingled with neighbors and local community leaders.

The dinner raised funds toward the upkeep of the six Sutton Place Parks, which the Conservancy maintains and improves. All your financial contributions help us plant flowers and bushes and keep them healthy all year long. During the two years of Covid-19, the parks served as places of refuge and play and they continue to be an important amenity for all the families and workers in the east Midtown area where there is very little open space.

Besides support for the beauty of our parks and gardens, your contributions have funded a series of free public events that have brought many to the parks for the first time.

Events This Year and Planned for Next Year

• The Sutton Sunset Celebration, on the evening of Manhattanhenge in July, included photographic tips, and was the first time during the pandemic that so many of us were able to gather together safely.

• Halloween, the Sutton Spooktacular Celebration attracted more than 200 children in their holiday garb, plus many dogs, also in costume. There were various activities for the youngsters, and trick-or-treat goodies in their “loot bags."

• A “Pop-up” one-hour version of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night with three actors entertained park visitors in September, and another play will be performed again this year

• In December, Carols and Candlelight was a new seasonal-sing-along, illuminated by strings of holiday lights, as visitors entered the park and enjoyed hot chocolate and candy canes.

• During Earth Day week in April, the Conservancy’s celebration taught children how to create art from recycled materials; introduced them to composting; and showed them how to build a terrarium.

These events--and more--are again in the works for the coming months.
Keeping our six parks along the East River clean and safe and holding the Conservancy entertainments are solely because of your continuing generosity. Your contributions enrich these community treasures while they add value to your property as well as enhance your personal well-being.
Thank you again for your support, and we look forward to seeing you, your family, and friends, in our six parks along the East River.

The Volunteers of Sutton Place Parks Conservancy

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR LOCAL MERCHANTS
WHO CONTRIBUTED TO OUR RAFFLE

A la Mode Ice Cream Shoppe
Biscuits & Bath
Complete Body Gym
Crumbly Cakes and Bakery
Ideal Cheese
Jeff Martin Fitness
Louie's Chicken
Maserati of Manhattan
Midtown Catch Fish Store
Purple PR
Realistic Design
59East59 Theater
ZeZe Flowers