From Harlem To Hudson Join The Pumpkin Smash Bash At Hudson River Park

Just thirty minutes from Harlem, Hudson River Park announced today that its annual Pumpkin Smash will take place at Hudson River Park’s Pier 84 on November 7, 2021. 

The event offers the local community an opportunity to smash and bash their leftover Halloween pumpkins into small pieces that will be turned into compost by Park staff.

Kids of all ages can partake in the fun from 11am to 2pm on Sunday, November 7 at Pier 84 near W 44th St and Twelfth Ave. Each group will get 15 minutes to pulverize their pumpkins into smithereens – the first step in the composting process. During Pumpkin Smash last year, the Park collected 1,000 pounds of pumpkin that were turned into compost by Park staff. Groups can register for this year’s Pumpkin Smash here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pumpkin-smash-tickets-176671086977.

Hudson River Park runs a community composting program year-round, operating ten drop-off sites where community members can deposit food scraps daily, 365 days each year. Composted food waste helps reduce harmful carbon emissions by reducing the need for waste to be shipped outside of New York City on gas-guzzling vehicles or barges that release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. In addition, composted soil enriches the Park’s lawns and flowerbeds and provides protections against pests and disease. Pumpkin Smash provides a unique and engaging way for the community to learn about how composting helps the overall health of both the environment and the Park.

“Hudson River Park’s annual Pumpkin Smash event perfectly combines two aspects of Hudson River Park’s mission: environmental stewardship and fun,” said Noreen Doyle, President and CEO of Hudson River Park.  “By encouraging our community to smash, bash and crash their leftover pumpkins into compost, we can all play an active role in working towards a greener future.”

Pumpkin Smash is hosted by Hudson River Park with support from BASIS Independent Schools.

“BASIS Independent Schools is thrilled to be part of such an important NYC tradition, and we look forward to meeting families on Nov. 7,” said LaNette Hodge, Regional Director of Admissions, BASIS Independent Schools.

To ensure the safety of participants, this year’s Pumpkin Smash requires pre-registration with timed entry. Each household, up to five people, will get one free ticket to the event. Groups are asked to bring their own pumpkins, safety goggles or face shields if they have.

 Hudson River Park Trust

Hudson River Park Trust is a unique partnership between New York State and New York City charged with building and operating Hudson River Park between approximately Chambers Street and West 59th Street along Manhattan’s west side. This free, urban recreational oasis is home to award-winning skate parks, playgrounds, sports fields, gardens and nature exhibits, boating and maritime activities, art installations, and myriad year-round events that celebrate the diverse cultures and neighborhoods along its shores. The Park, which transformed four miles of decaying piers and parking lots into a premier New York City destination for local residents and visitors alike, plays a critical role in protecting the Hudson River ecosystem. For more information, please visit www.hudsonriverpark.org.

 BASIS Independent Schools

BASIS Independent Schools offers the high-achieving BASIS Curriculum, which was developed in 1998 and serves students from Preschool through Grade 12. BASIS Independent Schools educate students to the highest international levels with a spiraling liberal arts and sciences curriculum benchmarked to the best education systems in the world. Our advanced curriculum, unmatched in breadth and depth, prepares students to be innovative leaders across disciplines. BASIS Independent Schools currently offers private school campuses in California, New York, and Northern Virginia, as well as international school locations in China and Thailand. Visit www.basisindependent.com for more information. BASIS Independent Schools is part of Spring Education Group, a multi-brand network providing superior private school education from infant care through high school.