In celebration of its 50th anniversary, Asphalt Green hosted a gala on Wednesday, May 31 at The Plaza. The event raised $1.2 million to expand equitable access to sports and fitness opportunities for all New Yorkers.
250 people attended the affair including Olympic competitors Rowdy Gaines, Lia Neal, and Tom Auth. Two videos detailing Asphalt Green’s history and community – available on our YouTube channel – were presented at the event, which also featured heartfelt speeches from Asphalt Green’s CEO and board members.
The event was an opportunity to look back on Asphalt Green’s history. For five decades, Asphalt Green has provided a space for communities to gather and enjoy the benefits of an active lifestyle. We have been a fixture in Manhattan since our playing field opened in 1973.
From our humble beginnings on the Upper East Side, Asphalt Green has grown to serve nearly 70,000 New Yorkers annually. In addition to our fee-based membership and programming, Asphalt Green’s community programs serve 50,000 people per year. The Recess Enhancement Program is provided to 42,000 students during a single school year. Over 3,000 second graders are able to learn to swim through our Waterproofing program, and 750 children play in our Community Sports Leagues.
Proceeds from the event will provide opportunities for kids to play sports and get active across the broad range of our programming. Asphalt Green teaches kids how to swim for free, brings active recess to public schools, runs sports leagues for middle school students, and provides scholarships for kids to compete at the highest level.