HomeAbout HRP Mamas

About HRP Mamas · Established 2004

HRP Mamas is a Mothers Support Group and Parenting Resource

The Hudson River Park Mothers Group brings mothers together online and in person, through a private online community, new and expecting mom groups, breastfeeding support groups, and cohort chats where in person meet-ups and playgroups are organized. We also offer prenatal and parenting workshops, a downtown dads group, and an annual education fair.

Educational events are open to all, whether or not you are a member.

Community 3,000+ Verified local mothers, not anonymous accounts

Established 2004 By a group of first time mothers who met in a new mothers support group

Archive 22 Years Of member posts, questions, and advice, searchable in the forums

Cohort chats 4 Per Year A new cohort each quarter, grouped by birth or due date, and again by neighborhood

Our Mission

501(c)(3)

What we are here to do

To foster community and provide support, information, and resources to mothers and families, both online and in person.

We do this through a private, verified online community; by facilitating new and expecting mom groups, breastfeeding support groups, and cohort chats where in person meet-ups and playgroups are organized; by holding prenatal and parenting workshops open to all; and through our email announcements about local resources and events.

The Hudson River Park Mothers Group is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation.

Battery Park City/Financial District/South Street Seaport/TriBeCa/SoHo/Nolita/Lower East Side/East Village/Greenwich Village/West Village/Union Square/Gramercy/Flatiron/Chelsea/Hudson Yards/Hell's Kitchen/Midtown East/Upper East Side/Upper West Side/Battery Park City/Financial District/South Street Seaport/TriBeCa/SoHo/Nolita/Lower East Side/East Village/Greenwich Village/West Village/Union Square/Gramercy/Flatiron/Chelsea/Hudson Yards/Hell's Kitchen/Midtown East/Upper East Side/Upper West Side/

The Manhattan neighborhoods we cover. Which group you join depends on where you live.

For mothers, Downtown HRP Mamas The Hudson River Park Mothers Group, serving Downtown Manhattan since 2004

For fathers, Downtown HRP Papas Our downtown dads group, for fathers in the same neighborhoods

For mothers, Uptown Central Park Mamas Our group for mamas who live in Uptown Manhattan

Our Story

Since 2004

How it started

A small group of first time mothers

HRP Mamas was established in 2004 by a group of first time mothers who met through a new mothers support group. The bond that small group shared was a positive and joyous one.

Finding other neighborhood moms to share that moment with, and to make lasting friendships with, helped us build a community of support, resources, and information. We wanted to pass that experience on, and the Hudson River Park Mothers Group was born.

Where it is now

A network of more than 3,000 local moms

Today HRP Mamas is a private online community with 22 years of archived posts, alongside new and expecting mom groups, breastfeeding support groups, and cohort chats where members organize in person meet-ups and playgroups. We also run prenatal and parenting workshops, a downtown dads group, and an annual education fair, and we send email announcements about local resources and events.

The online community is for parents who live in our Manhattan coverage area. The workshops and the education fair are open to everyone.

What We Offer

Some of what we do is for members only. The workshops, the education fair, and the announcement emails are open to anyone in the community.

01Private online communityVerified members only, with 22 years of archived posts

02New and expecting mom groupsFor the pregnancy months and the first months after

03Breastfeeding support groupsFeeding support alongside other mothers doing the same thing

04Cohort chatsA new cohort each quarter, grouped by birth or due date and by neighborhood, where members organize in person meet-ups and playgroups

05Prenatal and parenting workshopsOpen to all parents, caregivers, and community members

06HRP PapasOur downtown dads group

07Annual education fairPreschool and early education providers, one room, one afternoon

08SubgroupsMamas with multiples, children with special needs, single mamas, language based groups, and career support

09ClassifiedsBuy and sell used gear, and find childcare referrals from other members

10Email announcementsLocal resources and events, no membership required

Every member is verified

Unlike many online groups, the HRP Mamas community is not anonymous. Verification happens through referrals or through a FaceTime meeting with one of our group coordinators.

That is what makes the environment intimate and respectful, and it is why we can nurture a supportive space for moms and dads.

Ways to Take Part

Membership Join

Membership is open to parents who live in our Manhattan coverage area. It includes the private online community and its archive, new and expecting mom groups, breastfeeding support groups, and the cohort chats where meet-ups and playgroups are organized. There is more than one membership type and each opens up something different, so the Join us page is where to see what fits you.

Join us

Announcements Sign Up

Not eligible to join, but want to stay in the loop? Sign up for our announcement emails and you will hear about educational events, community events, and local resources. No membership required.

Events Attend

Our prenatal and parenting workshops are open to everyone: moms, dads, caregivers, and other community members. They run throughout the year, and our annual education fair each fall is open to all as well.

See the event calendar

Diversity Statement

All Welcome

Equity, diversity, and inclusion

HRP Mamas is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in everything we do, with our members, our volunteers, our partners, and everyone we work alongside.

We welcome people of every race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender expression, age, ability, and marital status. Our online community is open to parents who live in our Manhattan coverage area, and our educational events and workshops are open to all parents, caregivers, and community members.

Why HRP Mamas

Support

We understand that the first few months as a new mother can feel isolating, and that moving to a new neighborhood can feel lonely too.

Making friends and mindful connections with other mothers who share common experiences, going to playgroups and new mothers groups, and learning what is available locally all help build a sense of community. That is the whole point of this organization.

We also believe every parent needs support, which is why we take such an active role in bringing parenting events and workshops to the community as a whole, not only to members.

HRP Mamas has been listed repeatedly by Babble.com among its top parenting listservs and was profiled as a local resource in New York Magazine. More on our Press page. To hear it from members directly, read the Testimonials page.