They grow up so fast! The Friends of Duane Park celebrated its 225th birthday — see more history on the park here — with its annual Groundhog Day celebration.

There were treats from Duane Park Patisserie, Tribeca Wine Merchants and plenty of snow and ice thanks to the carving of the rodent and a rented snow machine. Great turnout and a lot of fun. And ICYMI, six more weeks of winter.

Lena Lalvani caught most of these shots since I couldn’t get anywhere near the groundhog — the kids just couldn’t get enough of him. I guess he was just their size.

The park was founded in 1787 and set aside as public land after the city bought it from Trinity Church. It’s the second oldest park in the city next to Bowling Green.