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Parks & Public Spaces
DeBeers, the Forever Diamond Campaign, application for an event in Madison Square Park, with mistletoe and picture taking, during the first week of December, 2008
WHEREAS, The J. Walter Thompson Agency, on behalf of DeBeers and the Forever Diamond Campaign, has applied to create an installation in Madison Square Park and hold an event over six days during the first week of December, 2008; and
WHEREAS, The main installation will be a metal and cable platform containing 60-100 cameras set up in a circle to provide a dynamic photo/video of participants under twinkling lights. The participants will receive, for free and via e-mail a “Matrix” style rendition of themselves in the platform. The DeBeers diamond symbol, made from mistletoe on a 5’ square frame, will be installed over the camera platform on a wire suspended from two metal columns; and
WHEREAS, The camera platform and a 10’ square kiosk will be located at the south end of Madison Square Park, on a graveled area, and will not interfere with normal pedestrian use of the Park; and
WHEREAS, The event will be open to the public, free of charge, from 2pm through 8pm, on December 2nd through 5th; construction and set up of the lighting will be performed on November 30th and December 1st, beginning no earlier than 8am; demolition will be complete by 10pm December 5th; and
WHEREAS, Signage will be limited to black DeBeers logos, each approximately 1’ x 2’, on the sides of the kiosk and two freestanding banners, each 5’ x 10’, to be located on either side of the camera platform; and
WHEREAS, No food or merchandise products will be sold during the event, but postcards and flyers may be given to the public; and
WHEREAS, The Madison Square Conservancy estimates that normal usage of the Park is about 30,000 people on a weekday, and the applicant estimates that this event will create traffic of an additional 2,000 people each day during the hours operation; and
WHEREAS, Although Community Board Five often prefers not to see purely commercial events take place in the public parks, we understand that this event may be cutting edge technology and an attractive entertainment, and we recognize that the applicant has worked closely with the Madison Square Park Conservancy and the Parks Department to minimize any interference with the normal usage of the Park; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That Community Board Five recommends approval of the application by The J. Walter Thompson Agency, on behalf of DeBeers and the Forever Diamond Campaign, to create an installation in Madison Square Park and hold an event November 30th to December 5th, 2008.
The above resolution passed by a vote of 20 in favor; 7 opposed; 3 abstaining; 1 present not entitled to vote.