Easter Egg Hunt Draws Hundreds to La Grande Park

(Fanwood, NJ) – A cold late March Saturday morning did not deter crowds of children and parents from coming out to La Grande Park for the Borough’s annual Easter Egg Hunt. The park venue changed this year as Forest Road Park was unavailable due to construction of a new playground.

Children made the mad dash to find eggs filled with candy and prizes, more than 2,000 of them. Contests included jellybean counting, chocolate egg counting, egg decorating, and bunny drawing. Families and kids also had the opportunity to pose for pictures with the Easter Bunny.

Beginning of the Easter Egg Hunt.

The playground was divided by age into five different egg hunt areas with each hunt taking less than a minute as children scrambled to fill their baskets with as many eggs as possible. Each egg contained candy or a prize. The hundreds of plastic eggs were filled by Recreation Commission volunteers.

Mad dash to grab Easter eggs

The annual event is a production of the Fanwood Recreation Commission. Recreation Director Bob Budiansky acted as master of ceremonies, while commission members and volunteers assisted at the contest and prize tables. Recreation Commissioner Bruce Zakarin manned the “Bunny Chute,” which dispensed candy to waiting kids. He was assisted by Councilwoman Patricia Walsh. Councilwoman Gina Berry assisted with keeping the line moving for the prize table. Councilwoman Erin McElroy Barker and Councilman Anthony Carter also were on hand.

Recreation Commissioner Bruce Zakarin dispenses candy from the “Bunny Chute” to a waiting child.

Mother and child pose for the photographer.

Recreation Commission Bruce Zakarin and his Bunny Chute helpers.

Guessing the number of chocolate eggs in the jar.

Looking for Easter eggs.

Mom helps her child grab an Easter egg.

Looking at the camera.

Recreation Commissioner Mike Lowenthal, Councilwoman Gina Berry, the Easter Bunny, Councilwoman Erin McElroy Barker, Councilwoman Patricia Walsh, and Councilman Anthony Carter.