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Parks & Public Spaces
Madison Sq. Park Conservancy - application to hold American Express-sponsored broadcast of Th US Open, August 27-September 5, 2012
WHEREAS, Madison Square Park Conservancy has submitted an application for a special event to be conducted in Madison Square Park on Monday, August 27 through Wednesday, September 5, 2012, in order to exhibit live broadcasts of the US Open matches; and
WHEREAS, The proposed event would again be sponsored by American Express, who would be paying a six-figure donation to the Madison Square Park Conservancy; and
WHEREAS, As in previous years, a Jumbotron screen would be erected near the Farragut Monument, bleachers would be on the plaza, a viewing area would be set-up in the drained reflecting pool, and food concessions would be provided by companies to be determined by an RFP; and
WHEREAS, At this time activities during the proposed event are limited to the northern section of the park, and there is no intention to utilize the southern section of the park for this event; and
WHEREAS, The US Open will be broadcast with sound daily from approximately 11:00 AM until 11:00 PM, with nothing other than US Open tennis match broadcasts with commercials being displayed; and
WHEREAS, If beer and wine are sold for consumption, this would be in selected areas and all wine and beer licenses would be displayed, service would stop at 9:30 PM and the vendors would be responsible to monitor where the purchaser goes within the park and security personnel would be posted by the concessions; and
WHEREAS, Although there will be corporate signage, the number of signs has been reduced in comparison to previous years and the proposed event's commercial nature has been reduced significantly; and
WHEREAS, There is a long-standing precedent for this event in Madison Square Park; and Community Board Five has found a significant amount of support for this event from residents and stakeholders in the community; and
WHEREAS, the Conservancy has agreed to abide by the requirements adopted by Community Board Five for large events being conducted in Madison Square Park, including a rigorous attempt to enforce navigation of the pathways through the Park during the event; and
WHEREAS, The issues of sound, security, refuse, park space for commercial promotion, and the duration and evening schedule of the event have all been addressed and have greatly improved in comparison to previous years; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That Community Board Five recommends approval of Madison Square Park Conservancy's proposed special event for the broadcast of the US Open matches in Madison Square Park on Monday, August 27 through Wednesday, September 5, 2012.
The above resolution passed by a vote of 34 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstaining.