NEW YORK, December 3, 2020 —Today the Central Park Conservancy celebrated its 40th anniversary as the organization that fully restores and cares for the entire 843-acre Park, with a festive holiday lighting in Harlem.
The Conservancy’s Holiday Flotilla at the Harlem Meer (located at the Park entrance west of Fifth Avenue and south of 110th Street) is a neighborhood tradition. While the lighting ceremony was held virtually, you can visit the Park to see the beautiful trees floating on the Meer throughout the holiday season. No tickets necessary.
Sponsored by Con Edison and hosted by the Women’s Committee, the 24th annual lighting event was streamed on the Conservancy’s Facebook page, featuring performances from local school and arts centers and culminated with a countdown to the lighting of the flotilla.
“Central Park has been a source of hope and community throughout the pandemic,” said Elizabeth W. Smith, President & CEO of the Central Park Conservancy. “While we can’t gather in-person this year, I’m pleased the tradition of the Conservancy’s Holiday Flotilla continues, bringing a bit of holiday magic when we need it most.”
Virtual visitors were treated to a very special Conservancy-themed reimagining of the beloved poem, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, an ice-carving demonstration, and sing-alongs with several local school choirs, DREAM Charter School, New Amsterdam Boys and Girls Choir, Harlem School of the Arts, and Vy Higginsen’s Sing Harlem Choir, as they performed holiday music.
“Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of our founding sponsor Con Edison, we are able to continue our tradition of this spectacular event and add light and wonder to the holiday season,” said Yesim Philip, Women’s Committee President.
Free, Holiday Fun Continues at Home
“The Central Park Conservancy’s Holiday Lighting at the Harlem Meer is a beloved New York tradition. This year’s festivities are especially important to the community because they provide families with a safe way to celebrate the holiday season,” said Frances A. Resheske, Con Edison’s senior vice president of Corporate Affairs. “We are proud to support the Holiday Lighting and we thank the Central Park Conservancy for bringing this magical experience to the north end of the Park year after year.”
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About the Central Park Conservancy
The Central Park Conservancy is a private, not-for-profit organization that manages Central Park and is responsible for raising the Park's annual operating budget. The Conservancy’s staff of more than 300 is responsible for all aspects of the Park’s stewardship, from day-to-day maintenance and operations to continued restoration and rebuilding projects. Additionally, the Conservancy operates the Park’s visitor centers, provides public programs, and serves as a resource for other NYC parks and for public-private partnerships around the world. For more information, please visit centralparknyc.org.
About the Women’s Committee
The Women’s Committee is a community of Central Park philanthropists with a passion for preserving and enhancing Central Park. With a membership of 1,000 the Women’s Committee has provided invaluable support and raises critical funds for the general operations of the Park. Since its inception in 1983, the Women’s Committee has raised over $195 million and enables anyone to make a personal investment in the Park. For more information, visit centralparknyc.org/womens-committee.
About Con Edison
Con Edison is a subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, Inc. [NYSE: ED], one of the nation’s largest investor-owned energy companies, with approximately $13 billion in annual revenues and $60 billion in assets. The utility delivers electricity, natural gas and steam to 3.5 million customers in New York City and Westchester County, N.Y. For financial, operations and customer service information, visit conEd.com. For energy efficiency information, visit coned.com/energyefficiency. Also, visit us on Twitter and Facebook.