BATTERY PARK CITY — The Battery Park City Block Party is gearing up for its 10th annual celebration this Saturday — and possibly its last.
Rosalie Joseph and Anthony Notaro, who started the block party in September 2002 to celebrate the community's recovery from 9/11, are stepping down as the lead organizers after this Saturday's festivities.
"It's very difficult, because I love it," said Joseph, who has lived in Battery Park City since 1990. "But I feel that the mission of the block party — to honor this community, to celebrate its rebirth and our strength — I feel that mission has been accomplished."
Thousands of new residents have moved into Battery Park City over the past 10 years, including many parents with young children, and Joseph said she feels it's time for the next generation to take over the planning of the annual event, if they want it to continue.
But this Saturday, Joseph and Notaro will still be in charge, and that means the return of many events that have been popular in the past, including a bubblegum-blowing contest and an apple pie bakeoff judged by local police officers and firefighters.
The block party will also host a Lady Gaga dress-up contest, with the caveat that the event is family-friendly and all outfits should be appropriate.
Joseph got the idea for a neighborhood block party in the spring of 2002, when she realized that the difficulties of 9/11 had united the community in a way that made it feel like a small town.
"How do we celebrate that?" Joseph said. "What do small towns do? They have block parties."
The event has grown over the years, with the addition of a seniors' flea market and more children's programs.
At Saturday's block party, businesses that have been in the neighborhood for more than 10 years will receive awards, as will lower Manhattan's longtime school principals.
Joseph will also present honors to Marti Cohen-Wolf for helping to start P.S. 89, Percy Corcoran for advocating for the Battery Park City library and Justine Cuccia, Roberta Kahan and Marilyn Masaryk for saving the Winter Garden's Grand Staircase.
The block party will be held Sept. 17, 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Esplanade Plaza, near North Cove Marina, at the west end of Liberty Street.
