Events
Many public events in the St. Vartan Park community are hosted and/or championed by St. Vartan Park Conservancy. See some past events below and more events on the Volunteers page.
Movies Under the Stars 2026
Views at St. Vartan Park on the night of a ‘Movies Under the Stars’ free screening in the park on May 21, 2026 — of the Swedish family-friendly movie‘Bert sabbar allt’ (‘Bert Ruins Everything’). The orange-and-blue lights from JPMorganChase’s global headquarters are in honor of the Knicks playing in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals.
Park Avenue Day 2026
Hundreds of complimentary sunflowers enhanced Park Avenue Day on May 16, 2025 — an expression of appreciation from St. Vartan Park Conservancy to Murray Hill for the community's invaluable support since the all-volunteer nonprofit launched four years ago this month.
In addition, for the second straight year at the annual street festival, free take-home Conservancy basil seedings were enjoyed by many.
Hosted by Murray Hill Neighborhood Association, the event featured two Conservancy stations four blocks west of the park. The Conservancy area proved to be fun and educational for visitors of all ages.
At the Conservancy's basil booth, a wave of planting participants found inspiration in a thriving basil plant (below) brought to the space by Park Avenue resident Marianne Guschwan. She had seeded the basil at the Conservancy station at least year's Park Avenue Day.
Turkey Drive 2025
On November 25, 2024, St. Vartan Park Conservancy for the third consecutive year hosted a distribution station at the St. Vartan Park garden for an annual turkey drive hosted by State Assembly Member Harvey Epstein and The Loisaida Center.
More than 2,500 families in the 74th Assembly District community received turkey and other food offerings. At the garden (above with the Conservancy’s Kevin O’Keefe and a food recipient), turkeys and pork were given to community members including families from garden-adjacent P.S. 281.
Saturday Morning Garden Experience
A participant in the Conservancy’s fall Saturday morning program on October 18, 2025, waters one of the St. Vartan Park garden’s two new stewartia trees. The program started in 2025 with activities for children and their accompanying adults.
New Trees
On September 22, 2025, a record number of new trees was planted at St. Vartan Park. Twenty three new plantings —17 trees, the most added to the park this millennium, and six Oak Leaf Tree Hydrangea that are technically shrubs — were planted in the park by a unified team that included NYC Parks public-private partnership program Tree Time, St. Vartan Park Conservancy, Arbor Day Foundation and Verizon.
The new additions include two London plane trees in the park's northeast and southeast corners. Two more of the trees — each a flowers-producing stewartia — were added symmetrically in the public garden that is stewarded by the Conservancy in cooperation with NYC Parks. In addition, a Royal Prince Oak, seven honey locust and five Zelkova trees were planted during the session.
St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral Day
On September 27, 2025, St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral and St. Vartan Park Conservancy co-hosted their first join community program — an engaging morning cathedral history tour and park beautification session. The Conservancy cherishes its blossoming relationship with the church and its vicar, Rev. Fr. Davit Karamyan (above left in both photos), who led the history session and helped plant dozens of daffodil bulbs for spring bloom in the park's southeast horticultural bed.
Commissioner’s Day of Play 2025
A chess session is underway on July 16, 2025, at the NYPD’S 17th Precinct the Commissioner's Day of Play summer series of games and sports activities that have strengthened community relations between youth and precinct officers
World Environment Day
World Environment Day on June 5, 2025, brought a volunteer cleanup of Murray Hill public areas, led by the Murray Hill Neighborhood Association (MHNA) Green and Clean Committee in cooperation with the MHNA Preservation and Design Committee, the Permanent Mission of Thailand to the United Nations and St. Vartan Park Conservancy. After a welcoming reception at the mission on East 39th Street, the particpants broke into groups for services athat included sidewalk infrastructure beautification and street litter pickup. Supplies were provided by the Conservancy with the cleanup ending at St. Vartan Park.
Movies Under the Stars 2025
A free ‘Movies Under the Stars’ screening of the 2024 feature film ‘Wicked’ was held on May 29 2025, on the St. Vartan Park athletic field with free popcorn courtesy of NYC Parks and the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment
Park Avenue Day 2025
St. Vartan Park Earth Day 2025
Thank you to the St. Vartan Park community for a wonderful fifth annual St. Vartan Park Earth Day on April 26, 2025. See the event recap video on YouTube here.
Above and below: In the morning in the St. Vartan Park garden, State Senator Kristen Gonzalez and State Assembly Member Harvey Epstein with additional remarks of support from U.S. Congressman Jerry Nadler, Deputy Manhattan Borough President Keisha Sutton-James and St. Vartan Park Conservancy and Manhattan East Community Association (MECA) president Kevin O’Keefe demanded that the MTA provide a walk-through of the state-owned MTA green space that’s been locked from public use for decades, to help determine how the space can be open to the public.
Below: The event enjoyed its fifth annual neighborhood cleanup. Groups set out to clean up the park neighborhood, with many bags of litter collected from streets and sidewalks near the park.
Below: Award-winning author-illustrator Julia Mills held a book reading, art lesson and book-signing session, with free copies of her celebrated new children’s picture book ‘Robinson’s New Thing’ provided to participants. Manhattan Borough Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura and State Assembly Member Alex Bores spoke with families and other session attendees in the park garden.
Below: The first book and puzzle swap at the annual event was held in the park playground.
Below:The day started with a free breakfast courtesy of Hill & Bay restaurant and Faith Bondy for City Council 2025. Azra Čauš hosted a Lower East Side Ecology Center interactive area of clay and compost painting and education about recycling.
Below: Attendees enjoyed St. Vartan Park Conservancy headgear available in the garden, here worn by Mills and St. Vartan Park Conservancy board member Stephanie Ogozalek, and Brooklyn Christensen and Conservancy event/volunteers manager Hana Kahn.
Helmet Giveaway
A bicycle helmet giveaway and free fittings and bike check was held at the northern St. Vartan Park handball court on April 19, 2025, sponsored by New York City Council Member Keith Powers in cooperation with St. Vartan Park Conservancy as well as the City of New York, New York City Department of Transportation and Vision Zero with participation by NYPD Community Affairs.
Turkey Drive 2024
On August 25, 2024, St. Vartan Park Conservancy and Manhattan East Community Association (MECA) were proud to support New York State Assembly Member Harvey Epstein's annual Thanksgiving turkey drive for the second straight year. The day's Conservancy and MECA activities (some above) included outreach alongside The River School (P.S. 281) PTA leadership, pickup from Assembly Member Epstein and his team af Loisaida Center delivery courtesy off Hall and Bay restaurant and distribution of 118 free turkeys, many to recipients at the St. Vartan Park garden entrance.
Inclusive Park Garden Entrance and New Pathway Unveiling
On November 23, 2024, dozens of community members and civic leaders including city, state and federal elected officials gathered in the St. Vartan Park garden for the unveiling of a historic Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant enhanced entrance and new pathway that completed the Conservancy's fifth phase of a five-phase equity plan. The major upgrade was generously provided by The Soloviev Foundation in cooperation with the Conservancy.The first garden visitor to use the new addition for wheelchair access was disability rights advocate Edward Funchess (center). You can learn more about Funches' work in this video event recap.
Commissioner’s Day of Play 2024
On August 28, 2024, the NYPD’S 17th Precinct wraps the Commissioner's Day of Play summer series of recreational activities held weekly over eight weeks at the St. Vartan Park playground and athletic field
Water Course Challenge
On August 1, 2024, on the St. Vartan Park athletic field, a lineup of free water rides and fun games billed as the Water Course Challenge was hosted by NYC Parks
Youth Book Swap
The first St. Vartan Park Youth Book Swap was presented by St. Vartan Park Conservancy in the St. Vartan Park playground on July 27, 2024. Leftover books from the event were stored for replenishment of the park’s Little Free Library (blue kiosk in lower right inset photograph).
Movies Under the Stars 2024
On June 1, 2024, on the St. Vartan Park athletic field, a ‘Movies Under the Stars’ free screening of ‘Prejudice and Pride: Swedish Film Queer’ helped kick off Pride Month
A ‘Movies Under the Stars’ free screening of the 2023 Disney film ‘The Little Mermaid’ is presented on the St. Vartan Park athletic field on May 24, 2024
St. Vartan Park Earth Day 20024
At the St. Vartan Park Earth Day on April 13, 2024, several special guests stopped by the park garden stewarded by St. Vartan Park Conservancy.
United States Congressman Jerry Nadler bestowed St. Vartan Park Conservancy and Manhattan East Community Association president Kevin O’Keefe with a U.S. Congressional proclamation after Congressman Nadler read O'Keefe into the Congressional Record earlier in the week for O'Keefe's "tremendous accomplishments" and for leading "a major advocacy campaign to reopen an East Midtown garden and lawn after decades of closure."
Representative Nadler, event co-host New York City Council Member Keith Powers and fellow elected officials Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, New York State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, New York Assembly Member Harvey Epstein an New York Assembly Member Alex Bores met with children who wrote letters at the event for Climate Families NYC that Powers delivered to New York City Mayor Eric Adams in support of greener and healthier schools.
Celebrated illustrator Brendan Wenzel (middle top and lower left signed copies and read his new book Solar Bear.
New NYC Parks Manhattan Borough Commissioner Tricia Shimamura (upper right) and other officials delivered remarks to celebrate the environment, parks and community.
Holiday Celebration
On December 21, 2023, in the St. Vartan Park garden, St. Vartan Park Conservancy hosted a free community holiday celebration with carolers, sing-alongs, hot chocolate and cookies. Pop artist Bernie Weil, a Murray Hill resident handmade a bird house (pictured with child) for the Conservancy.
Movies Under the Stars 2023
A ‘Movies Under the Stars’ free screening of the 2022 Marvel Comics film ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,’ presented on the St. Vartan Park athletic field on September 30, 2023 (seen here from East 35th Street outside the field), included a popcorn machine (red top) with attendant for free popcorn for all
A free screening of ‘How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World’ was presented by NYC Parks and Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment and sponsored by New York City Council Member Keith Powers on July 20, 2023
Commissioner’s Day of Play 2023
On August 30, 2023, Police Commissioner's Day of Play hosted by NYPD’s 17th Precinct wrapped the summer's tenth and last St. Vartan Park day of sports, games and other fun offerings. 17th Precinct Officer Sefer Tafaruci and St. Vartan Park Conservancy’s Kevin O’Keefe (with football) take a final summer time out with some of the participants.
Police Commissioner’s Day of Play participants play at St. Vartan Park on June 28, 2023
St. Vartan Park Earth Day 2023
The free third annual St. Vartan Park Earth Day Celebration on April 22, 2023, featured activities hosted by St. Vartan Park Conservancy in the St. Vartan Park garden. Participants enjoyed a read-along, discussion and question-and-answer session with the author of the new Simon & Schuster children's picture book The Day The River Caught Fire, about how Earth Day came to be. In partnership with Books of Wonder, the Conservancy provided free copies of The Day the River Caught Fire for attendees. Author Barry Wittenstein personalized the books for the recipients. Among the special guests in the garden during the celebration were Manhattan Borough President Mark D. Levine, New York State Senator Kristen Gonzalez and New York State Assembly Member Alex Bores (pictured with St. Vartan Park Conservancy founder Kevin O'Keefe) and NYC Parks’ Manhattan Borough Commissioner Anthony Perez (with the author).
PuppetMobile
Play Mobile
On September 9, 2022, the day after the school year started for New York City public schools, children in St. Vartan Park benefit from a visit form the NYC Parks Play Mobile vehicle, which shows up with games and sports activities and instructors
Water Run Race
On August 4, 2022, on the St. Vartan Park athletic field, NYC Parks offered a water-themed event that included the department’s first ‘Water Run Race,’ an assortment of other water games and free activities including jumbo chess
Movies Under the Stars 2022
On June 25, 2022 on the St. Vartan Park field, NYC Parks and the Mayor’s Office of Entertainment and Media unit hosted the second of two 2022 ‘Movies Under the Stars’ free movie nights
St. Vartan Park Earth Day 2022
On April 30, 2022, on the week following Earth Day, many local community organizations came together to host an event focused on improving the environment
Retrospective
On May 11, 1999, New York City Schools Chancellor Rudy Crew meets with children from nearby P.S. 116 as part of a reading event
“[New York City] Schools Chancellor Rudy Crew was in action at St. Vartan Park on First Ave. yesterday. It was a celebration of his literacy campaign, Love to Read, which was launched in 1997 . . .The youngsters looked as though they could have have come from the United Nations, straight up the avenue. White, black, Latin, Asian and whatever other categories might apply, the kids were thrilled when the chancellor arrived.”
“You have to give Schools Chancellor Rudy Crew credit for grace under fire. If I had Mayor Giuliani mad at me, I’d take to my bed and pull the covers over my head. But Crew is soldiering on as if nothing is amiss. Tuesday he’ll be at St. Vartan’s Park in Manhattan to announce the start of the second annual Love-To-Read literacy effort. Crew will deliver passages from the children’s book ‘Amazing Grace,’ alongside Parks Commissioner Henry Stern, Love-To-Read founder Stan Bratskeir and Yellow Pages VP Mary Jo Howe, whose Bell Atlantic bosses have given $30,000 to the program.”
Guests including New York City Mayor Ed Koch (right) attend ‘A Romantic Evening at Tivoli Gardens’ at St. Vartan Park on May 20, 1987 | New York Times
“There were about 1,300 guests . . . The scene of the event — a black-tie party entitled ‘A Romantic Evening at Tivoli Gardens’ — was St. Vartan Park [for] the Horizon, a 44-story condominium under construction a pebble’s toss from St. Vartan Park . . . There was a merry-go-round. There were also three huge tents. The circus tent featured a dozen acts, including jugglers, clowns, unicylists, fire-eaters, magicians, tightrope walkers, dogs and a pony. The 50’s tent spotlighted doo-wop groups; String Fever, a swingy 11-woman, 1-man orchestra; giant puppets, and ‘living’ statues. In the main tent the Steven Scott Production Orchestra went through five different styles of music — costumes, sets and lighting included. And in that tent, the food — lots and lots of it — was served buffet style. If it was edible, it was there.”
Dancers perform on a stage in St. Vartan Park at the One World Festival, a cultural event held for 16 years starting in 1973 | Photograph courtesy of St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral
“The place to be this weekend is the park and streets adjacent to St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral . . . site of the second annual One World Festival . . . the festival celebrates the multinational character of New York.”
A community engagement event with 17th Precinct officers including community relations officer Ted Christensen (left) unfolds at St. Vartan Park on May 9, 1974 | (New York) Daily News
“Neighborhood mothers thought it was a good idea, and so did cops at the 17th Precinct. So, at [the park], an outdoor luncheon was held to begin a ‘know your sector cop’ program. ”
“. . . in keeping with Parks Week, there will be a program of balloons, music and whatever, called ‘Faces of the World’s Children’ in [the park], 35th Street and First Avenue, starting at 2 P.M. today. It’s a preview of a number of UNICEF park programs coming this summer.”
In September1954 in the park, James Hearn (left) and Vera Normoyla dance together at an event sponsored by the 15th Precinct Coordinating Council
“Vacation days ended for the kids on the Middle East Side with the last of the twice-weekly Summer Dances sponsored by the Coordinating Council of the 15th Precinct.”
