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Parks & Public Spaces
Application from the Bryant Park Corporation for the “Bryant Park’s Barefoot Ball” event in Bryant Park on Wednesday, July 20, 2016, from 7:30pm to 11:00pm
WHEREAS, Bryant Park Corporation ("Applicant") has submitted an application to hold "Bryant Park's Barefoot Ball," an event to launch and develop the Applicant's "Young Professionals" group while raising money to support the calendar of events at Bryant Park; and
WHEREAS, The event would be held from 7:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., with set-up beginning at 1:00pm the day of the event, and breakdown to be completed by 1:00 am the morning after the event; and
WHEREAS, The Event will be held on the eastern half of the lawn, with the gravel area closed but the upper terrace area open to the public; and
WHEREAS, The event is expected to bring a crowd of approximately 1,000 participants; and
WHEREAS, The event will consist of live music and dancing in the eastern half of the lawn of Bryant Park, with open bar and food available for purchase from notable NYC restaurants; and
WHEREAS, The event will be ticketed, with general admissions tickets costing $115 and not including food and VIP tickets costing $175 and including food and a gift bag; and
WHEREAS, Music will include a two hour set by DJ Questlove, with no live bands, meaning that there will be amplified sound that the Applicant will limit to the closed off area; and
WHEREAS, Participants will be asked to go "barefoot" (or wear flip-flops) which will add to the intimacy of the event as well as protect the lawn while participants are dancing; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant has not finalized signage and as such, was not able to display what signage will be present at the event, but expects signage to be limited to information about side activities of at the event, such as a juggling booth, and a "shoe check," where participants can check their shoes prior to going onto the dance area; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant was unable to provide any details about the system being used for amplified sound; and
WHEREAS, The Applicant was unable to explain whether or not the proposed event is intended to be a recurring event; and
WHEREAS, Applicant has agreed to have no fewer than five personnel dedicated to sanitation during the event, and will provide recycling bins for applicable refuse in response to Community Board Five's request; and
WHEREAS, Applicant is proposing an event which seems to have minimal impact on Bryant Park while bringing in significant revenue to fund programs that will be of public benefit; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, Community Board Five recommends denial of the application from Bryant Park Corporation for the "Bryant Park's Barefoot Ball" event in Bryant Park on Wednesday, July 20, 2016, from 7:30pm to 11:00pm, unless any signage that is used is not inappropriate in size or scale to Bryant Park, and unless a plan for amplified sound limits the use of subwoofers and the throw of amplified sound, and unless Applicant can provide an explanation for whether the event will be recurring.