At Washington Market Park, Two Free New Arts Programs

This month, Washington Market Park launches two free arts programs for young children.
"Arts for Tots" gives two- and three-years-olds a chance to create with messy materials such as paint, clay, sand and mud. Each 45-minute session will also include a story time.

For three- to six-year-olds there’s "Let’s Explore," combining art, science and nature and turning the park into a laboratory for observation. Some of the projects will include leaf printing, building puppets, making frames and gardening. Participation is limited to 12 children. Parents or other caregivers are expected to remain with their children.

Spring sessions will be each Tuesday from April 16 through June 11. "Arts for Tots" meets at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. "Let’s Explore" is at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. From June 24 to Aug. 8 the program will expand to four days a week, from Monday through Thursday. Both classes are conducted by Sarah Murphy, who taught for 14 years at the Washington Market School.

The program is organized by the Washington Market Park Board of Directors and is funded by a foundation that asks to remain anonymous, and by a $9,000 donation from a group of Italian businesspeople in Tribeca who raised money for local children last November through a silent auction at Pescapella Docks on Greenwich Street.

Washington Market Park is at Greenwich and Chambers streets.