Thank you!

Linda Livelli, Duck Race Chair has a degree in organizing as she kept all the trustees on track and herded the ducks to the finish line.

HPC Trustees who live the mission of Hanson Park Conservancy and give their all in any/all tasks to pull off a successful duck race.

For all the community support we receive which makes Hanson Park Conservancy’s Annual Rubber Ducky Race a special event in a truly unique town.

The HPC 13th Annual Rubber Ducky Race was a swimming success!!

We had 1300+ colorful racing ducks careening over the falls at Sperry Park Cranford, following the mama duck who was trying to swim forward. She never turned around as she kept watching over her baby ducks.

The ducks weren’t quite racing this year as the current was a gentle meander towards the N. Union Bridge finish line. However, the kids and other race fans spent longer cheering them on to see which color came in first place; it was a blue duck! The crowd cheered from both sides of the river bank and overlooking the bridge.

The Yarnstormers provided a colorful tableau of knitted ducks hanging from the N. Union Bridge to watch their racing cousin ducks down below.

This year saw the largest crowd to date to witness our duck race. There were other activities to keep their attention while they waited to hear the numbers of the winning ducks. The Cranford Library had their bookmobile on site and helped the children make their own duck buttons. There was a duck “hole in the head” frame for selfie pictures.

While everyone waited for the announcement of the winning ducks they could purchase their own rubber rescue duck to take home along with a duck themed pen.There was a new raffle this year for the children, 9 glazed ceramic ducks. All children spectators were given a free raffle ticket and had the opportunity to go home with a beautifully crafted glazed ceramic duck.

Photos in slide show by Fran Witherington and Kevin Papa

Merchant Prize donors, gift cards

Periwinkles
Old City Café & Grill
Cougar Headquarters
Cranford’s Best Bagel & Deli
Starbucks
Vanilla Bean Creamery
Toast- Cranford
Sub-Ology
Target
Ambeli’s Greek Taverna

HPC wishes to thank all the volunteers who helped get us to race day and offered their time and sweat equity the day of the race.

Union County Parks and Rec
Union County Police
Cranford Parks and Rec
Mayor Brian Andrews
Commissioner Kathleen Prunty Miller
Commissioner Gina Black
Troop 80 Boy Scouts
Cranford Fire Department Water Rescue team
Calvary Nursery School volunteers
Richard Brown
MaryBeth Kniazuk
Jeri Weisberg
Crysta Kearny
Weaver Printing
Kevin Papa, photographer
Bernie Wagenblast
Tom Hannen
Cranford Library
Ralph Circelli, Cranford Canoe Club
Don Keenan
John and Wendy Durrua
HPC spouses and friends who willingly gave of their time

All proceeds benefit Hanson Park maintenance and educational programs.

About our annual Rubber Ducky Race
Hanson Park Conservancy, founded in 2004, has been holding the Duck Race since 2010. The event typically draws a crowd of over 400 people to cheer on the 1,500 numbered rubber ducks as they race over the water falls at Sperry Park. Prizes (generously donated by merchants) are given out to the first 10 ducks to cross the finish line. All rubber ducks are collected at the end of the race and reused the following year.

Thank you!

The HPC 13th Annual Rubber Ducky Race was a swimming success!!

Merchant Prize donors, gift cards

Sponsors