The Women's Committee and Playground Partners of the Central Park Conservancy hosted their annual Play for the Park round-robin tennis tournament. The fall benefit raised over $145,000 to support the daily upkeep and ongoing care of Central Park’s 21 playgrounds, which provide New York children and families safe and accessible areas to play. Participants enjoyed friendly competition on the Har-Tru tennis courts with breakfast and refreshments, including R.E.D.D. plant-based nutrition bars. Tennis professional and broadcaster Patrick McEnroe cheered on the players, who were outfitted in head-to-toe tennis gear from the event’s sponsor, Tory Sport.
The event Co-Chairs were Leslie Brille, Stephanie Hessler, Tracey Huff, Kate Lauprete, and Marisa van Bokhorst, and attendees included Playground Partners Chair, Heather McAuliffe, Playground Partners Vice-Chairs, Mimi Ritzen Crawford and Austen Phillips Cruz. Women's Committee President, Yesim Philip and Betsy Smith, President & CEO of the Central Park Conservancy, were joined by tournament players and Conservancy supporters including Abigail Baratta, Katherine Birch, Shirin Christoffersen, Lise Evans, Emma Frelinghuysen, Krissy Jones, Michelle Li, Susan Millstein, Renata Zandonadi Quaglia, Babba Rivera, and Amy Tarr. Victory was celebrated at the morning session by winners Aileen Bruner and Anne Prosser. Leslie Brille and Britt Wallach were the afternoon’s champions.
