Megan (MrsMew)

lj_n_tj24

Hi! I was going to message you on facebook but wanted the other girls to chime in on this idea I have in mind to take place in Central Park NY.

Ok here it goes...

Im planning another baby shower, this time for a childhood friend living in NYC. I finally found another reason to visit lol. Its going to be a surprise Baby Shower, I have her cousin helping me that lives there too.

She knows I want to throw her a baby shower but doesn't know when yet, so I thought a surprise would be perfect. So the plan is to have a Picnic Baby Shower at Central Park (plan A picnic/ plan B at their apartment base on weather), she will be about 6-7 months pregnant in October. Her cousin said it is beautiful in Central Park around that time of the year.

Set up: Picnic blankets (color theme depending on baby gender) Finger foods stored in Picnic baskets which is also used as center pieces with balloons tied in it. There will be about 20 guests, we'll have a nice chair for her for easy seating heheh. Now here's the question:

Is this even allowed in Central Park? i mean I know you can have picnics there but for a big group of 20? Do we have to get a permit? how about the balloons? Sorry to bombard you with so many questions, i figured you might have an idea

 

tiffkane10

That is actually a really good question.  I asked my DH (who is a NYer) and he was so tired that he couldn't remember (lol).  I googled the question for you and according to the Permits and Services dept in NYC, you need a special events permit for any gathering of 20 or more.  As far as decorating, the P&S dept says that you have to let them know when you apply for the permit if you want to decorate (The only things they say no to on the page is hanging banners or signs from trees or bushes and no tents may be put up)

Here is the page for P&S, the FAQ page, and the Parks page for more information:

http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_faqs/faq.html

https://nyceventpermits.nyc.gov/Parks/

http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_permits_and_applications/events_faq.html

MrsMEW

PP beat me to it with some good info! I was going to share this special events FAQ link:

http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_permits_and_applications/events_faq.html 

(Sorrry, I'm on a Mac and am too lazy to make that clicky.)

I had never even thought of needing a permit in Central Park, so you're already ahead of the game in my book, lol!

For the record, I love this idea! Central Park is gorgeous in October - the weather should (hopefully) still be nice and the leaves will be changing. It should be fabulous! And yay for coming back to New York!

I don't know how much help I can be, but if there's anything I can do to help, let me know!