Co-chairs
Kim Elliman & Lucy Rockefeller Waletzky, MD

The 2023 Garden Party Lunch is in support of Rockwood Hall.

Co-chairs
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Kim Elliman
A nationally recognized leader in land conservation policy, strategy, and advocacy, Kim Elliman is president and CEO of the Open Space Institute (OSI). Active in 15 states in the eastern U.S. and three Canadian provinces, OSI has protected more than two million acres for clean water, expanded parks and recreational access, and wildlife protection, and to fight climate change and its impacts. Among the boards and foundations on which Elliman has served are The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation; Overhills Foundation; Samuel Freeman Charitable Trust; The Wilderness Society; Yale School of the Environment Steering Committee; and the Wildlife Conservation Society.
Mr. Elliman is the great-great-grandson of William Rockefeller.

Lucy Rockefeller Waletzky, MD
Dedicated to the protection of critical natural areas, Dr. Lucy Rockefeller Waletzky served as Chair of the NYS Council of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and the Taconic Regional Parks Commission. She was also a founding board member of Friends of the Rockefeller State Park Preserve; The National Audubon Society; and Grassroots Environmental Education. Dr. Waletzky is a recipient of the Governor’s Parks & Preservation Award, the Robert Moses Master Builder Award, the Frederic E. Church Award, and the Open Space Institute Land Conservation Award. She is the great-granddaughter of John D. Rockefeller, Sr.

Funds raised by the 2023 Garden Party Lunch will go towards the design phase of the Rockwood Hall revitalization. Our Garden Party celebrates the Friends ongoing endeavors since 1996, to protect and maintain the Rockefeller State Park Preserve. We are looking forward to focusing our efforts on the Rockwood Hall section of the Park Preserve. 

Rockwood Hall is known for its rich history and unique location. As a private home for generations, the foundation and stone gatehouse are all that remain today of what was once a grand mansion. Its spectacular Hudson River views, rare specimen trees, and proximity to the neighboring community have made it a highly popular destination and the Friends are excited to begin planning for robust improvements, including amenities for the public, a designated entry in keeping with the location’s history and landscaping that will have a positive environmental impact.