Michael Scully, president of Park Avenue’s famous home specialty store, hosted a champagne reception to celebrate. "For the last 30 of our 75 years," he said, "we’ve had a beautiful front lawn thanks to the fund."

New York City Parks and Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe noted that since its creation by the late Mary Lasker, the Fund for Park Avenue has planted nearly 3,000,000 tulip bulbs, more than 600 trees and approximately 900,000 begonias. "Flowers have a civilizing effect on people," he said. "I have never seen a fist fight in front of a flowerbed."

In addition to music by Alex Donner, the celebration featured four spring table settings.  Each centerpiece was inspired by the Park Avenue malls.

Eleni’s New York provided tulip-topped cupcakes for a children’s party hosted by Evie Brown and Blair Clarke. Will Ryman, whose sculptures will be featured on the malls January 2011, lent models of his work to a table for members of the fund’s Sculpture Advisory Committee.  

Eugenie Niven Goodman’s dinner for famous horticulturalists featured a classic mall by Ron Wendt Design in boxwood and tulips.  Event designer Nancy Swiezy hosted a table, in which she envisioned a Buddha visiting a mall.

"What makes us unique" said FFPA president Barbara McLaughlin, "is that we are totally dependant on donations from individuals, the buildings on Park Avenue, corporations and foundations."

Among those on hand were Manhattan Borough Commissioner William Castro, City Council members Jessica Lappin and Dan Garodnick.

Plus and FFPA directors and committee members Ronald D. Spencer, Nicole and Derek Limbocker, Margaret Ternes, Muffie Potter Aston, Sheri Babbio, Friederike Biggs, Evie Brown, Maureen Chilton, Blair Clarke, Mary Davidson, Amy Mazzola Flynn, Martha Glass, Eugenie Niven Goodman, Helena Martinez and Burwell Schorr.

Also Alexandra Lebenthal, Jeremy Biggs, Wendy Carduner, Michèle Gerber Klein, Geoffrey Bradfield, Sharon Hoge, Jay Snyder, Zelda Kaplan, Kevin McLaughlin, Audrey Gruss, Stuart and Vanessa McLean, Michael and Eleanora Kennedy.

And Melissa and Chappy Morris, Catherine and Bryan Carey, Leslie and Peter Jones, Maggie Norris, Dr. Robert Grant, Jennifer Bradford Davis, John Glass, Douglas Hannant, Dr. Kevin Plancer, Jean Shafiroff, Michel Witmer, Jake Bright, Nina Griscom, Sharon Bush, and Dr. John Espy.