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Parks & Public Spaces
Madison Square Conservancy, application to hold US Open viewing in Madison Square Park from Monday, August 25th to Sunday, September 7th, 2008.
WHEREAS, Madison Square Park Conservancy has applied for a special events permit for August 25 through September 9, 2007 to hold viewing of the US Open; and
WHEREAS, American Express will have a Jumbotron screen on the Farragut Monument (considered a major work of historic art), bleachers on the plaza, a viewing area, food concessions provided by companies to be determined by an RFP; and
WHEREAS, Plans were submitted to the committee which showed a greatly reduced impact on the park. The plans showed no events in the south end of the park which was a major change from previous years; and
WHEREAS, The US Open will be broadcast with sound from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. every day and evening and if events run later than 11:30p.m.the Jumbotron will be shut off and an announcement will be made each evening that the screen will be shut down at 11:30 PM; and
WHEREAS, nothing other than US Open tennis will be shown on the Jumbotron; and
WHEREAS, Beer and wine will be sold for consumption in selected areas and all wine and beer licenses will be displayed, service will stop at 9:30PM and the vendors will be responsible to monitor where the purchaser goes within the park and a security person will be posted by the concessions; and
WHEREAS, Signage will be significant in size but reduced in number; and
WHEREAS, although the event is commercial in nature it has been reduced significantly with the sponsor making a substantial donation to the Conservancy; and
WHEREAS, Sound, security, refuse, park space for commercial promotion, the length of event and the evening schedule of events are all being greatly improved; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That Community Board Five recommends approval of a permit to Madison Square Park Conservancy to allow American Express broadcast the US Open.
The above resolution passed by a vote of 24 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstaining.