In July, Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the creation of "Parents' Night Out," an initiative aimed at giving caregivers the night off.
But how did it go?
Here's what to know about the event.
Why did Mamdani announce "Parents' Night Out"?
The free NYC Parks program allowed parents to drop off children aged 6 to 13 for a few hours in the evening, giving them free time to do what they wanted.
“Every parent knows that a few hours to yourself can feel like a luxury,” Mamdani said in July.
“It shouldn’t be. That's why we’re launching New York City’s first-ever Parents’ Night Out, so that parents can get a little time on their own to catch a movie, run errands or go on a date without worrying about who will take care of the kids — or how much it will cost."
He tied it back to his affordability agenda,
saying that "Making New York City more affordable isn’t just about lowering costs, it’s about giving people back their time."
The one-night program was held Sunday, Aug. 16.
What happened during NYC's first "Parents' Night Out?"
From 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., parents were able to drop off their children while city workers offered multiple activities - including free dinner for those who attended.
According to NYC Parks, children were able to participate in sports, arts and crafts, nature exploration and more.
Around 500 kids were registered, and 265 attended, according to the New York Times.
It is not immediately clear if another "Parents' Night Out" will be hosted.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Here's how Mamdani gave NYC parents free babysitting
