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Parks & Public Spaces
Madison Square Park Conservancy's proposal to conduct the Mad. Sq. Mark't. Fall Market Festival from Sunday September 26 through Saturday October 23, 2010
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, Madison Square Park Conservancy has submitted an application seeking permission to conduct Mad. Sq. Mark't. Fall Market Festival in Worth Triangle and in portions of the Broadway Greenway located between East 23rd Street and East 25th Streets, to be in daily operation from Sunday September 26 through Saturday October 23, 2010, between the hours of 11:00 AM and 8:00 PM, and in addition, the proposed event would required approximately four days to set-up and approximately four days for dismantling and clean-up; and
WHEREAS, Mad. Sq. Mark't. Fall Market Festival had been previously conducted from Saturday October 10 through Saturday October 31, 2009, and there is an intention that this would be repeated annually; and
WHEREAS, Mad. Sq. Mark't. Fall Market Festival is modeled on and is promoted by Urban Space Management, promoters of such high quality retail events that include the Union Square Holiday Market; and
WHEREAS, The proposed event also will offer the sale of prepared foods from area restaurants, fresh seasonal vegetables, apple cider and baked goods, and also apparel, accessories and home products, from approximately 60 vendors; and
WHEREAS, In addition to the sale of food and merchandise, the proposed event would include an assortment of free live music performances, pumpkin picking and other entertainment to attract the widest possible audience; and
WHEREAS, Last year Madison Square Park Conservancy received an approximately $60,000.00 donation from the proceeds of the Mad. Sq. Mark't. Fall Market Festival; and
WHEREAS, During last year's event, it was evident that the amount of space required to conduct any 60 vendor marketplace is substantial, and the small amount of space available in Worth Triangle and in portions of the Broadway Greenway is logistically insufficient for an event of this magnitude, causing complaints from neighboring residents; and
WHEREAS, At times, the increased number of visitors to this area would create congestion at the entryways to the 23rd Street subways station; and
WHEREAS, In spite of the applicant's proposed effort to make sure that there is a minimum of 10'-0" width for all pedestrian pathways in and around the proposed market, at times those pathways would be receiving many more visitors than is customary, thus creating cumbersome and unsafe access into, through and out of the area; and
WHEREAS, Each of the vendors would be set-up in a three-sided canvas tent, and each tent would be approximately 8'-0" to 10'-0" in height, and as these tents are placed in close proximity to each other this would obscure the views into and out of Madison Square Park; and
WHEREAS, Requiring nearly one whole month, Mad. Sq. Mark't. Fall Market Festival would occur over an inordinately lengthy duration of time, and an event of this scale would overwhelm this small amount of public park space; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That Community Board Five recommends denial of Madison Square Park Conservancy's application to conduct the Mad. Sq. Mark't. Fall Market Festival from Sunday September 26 through Saturday October 23, 2010; and further, be it
RESOLVED, That should the special event application for the Mad. Sq. Mark't. 2010 Fall Market Festival be approved despite our recommendation to deny this, Community Board Five requests an opportunity to review any future applications for a permit to conduct this event before this is renewed by the Parks Department Special Permit Office.
The above resolution passed by a vote of 27 in favor; 6 opposed; 1 abstaining.