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Parks & Public Spaces
MS&L Worldwide Public Relations - application to hold a Special event for Crest Glide Dental Floss in Union Square Park on November 14
WHEREAS, Community Board Five takes its role in the review of applications for Parks Special Events seriously and requests an opportunity to review the application before a permit is granted by the Parks Department Special Permit Office; and
WHEREAS, MS&L Worldwide Public Relations has submitted an application seeking permission to conduct a promotional event for Crest Glide dental floss in Union Square Park on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 between the hours of 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM; and
WHEREAS, The proposed event would feature 40 foot by 12 foot exhibit/obstacle course on top of Astroturf padding that would allow consumers to learn about Crest Glide products and to participate in a life-size simulation of the flossing experience (with the consumers playing the role of the floss); and
WHEREAS, The proposed event would involve the distribution of Crest Glide product samples and coupons and a celebrity appearance by Alison Sweeney; and
WHEREAS, Crest Glide logos and corporate signage would be prominently displayed throughout the obstacle course on four 8 foot standing signs and on a 10 by 10 foot tent at the course entrance; and
WHEREAS, Video footage would be filmed at the event for promotional purposes with written consent from the participants (and those participants not giving consent would not be filmed); and
WHEREAS, Event set-up and dismantling would occupy most of the day, commencing at 7:30 AM and concluding by 6:00 PM; and
WHEREAS, We are concerned about the prominent corporate signage, the product sampling, the promotional filming; and
WHEREAS, Although the event sponsors will pay $18,000.00 to the city’s general fund and will make a $1.00 donation to Feeding America for each person who goes through the obstacle course, which we commend, Community Board Five has repeatedly taken the position to deny access to our parks for special events that are predominantly commercial and negatively impact the public’s access to the park; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That Community Board Five recommends denial of the application by MS&L Worldwide Public Relations to conduct a promotional event for Crest Glide dental floss in Union Square Park on Tuesday, November 10, 2009.
The above resolution passed unanimously.