UPDATE: Jenna Lyons is no longer slated to attend the luncheon, a spokeswoman for the committee said.
CHELSEA — A Hudson River Park-focused fundraising committee whose members include Robert De Niro’s daughter-in-law has gotten some more celebrity endorsements for the park.
J. Crew creative director and president Jenna Lyons — who guest-starred on HBO's "Girls" in 2014 — and comedian Karen Bergreen were slated to attend the Friends of Hudson River Park Playground Committee’s inaugural luncheon on Jan. 29 to raise money for the organization.
The committee was formed by a group of parents working to promote and support the park's offerings for children, including the park's Chelsea Waterside Play Area at West 23rd Street and 11th Avenue, which they say has fallen into disrepair.
At a Community Board 4 meeting in December, committee members raised concerns about outdated playground equipment, drainage problems and other issues in the play area.
Real estate broker Claudine De Niro, who is married to Robert De Niro’s son Raphael, is one of the committee’s members, according to the Friends of the Hudson River Park’s website.
Tickets for the luncheon began selling at $350 and have already sold out, a spokeswoman said. The sales brought in a total of $92,500, and the committee expects to raise even more during the event, she added.
State Sen. Brad Hoylman, Assemblyman Richard Gottfried and City Councilman Corey Johnson are also expected to attend, the spokeswoman said.
