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Parks & Public Spaces
Applications from Madison Square Park Conservancy for their annual roster of programming for 2016
WHEREAS, Madison Square Park Conservancy ("Applicant") has submitted applications for their annual roster of programming for 2016, comprised of the following events:
- Kids' Events: Madison Square Kids music program in the Oval Lawn on Thursday mornings in July and August (two fewer events than in 2015); and Kids' Fest Fall park-wide on Saturday, October 15, all free of charge and open to the public;
- Music Events: The Summer concert series in the Oval Lawn, now once a month on a Wednesday evening from May through August (four events, down from eight in 2015); the Fall Music Studio Series programs on the south gravel area on Saturday afternoons in September and October (four fewer events than in 2015), all free of charge and open to the public;
- Fundraisers: Celebrate Flatiron Chefs on the south gravel area on July 12; and the annual MSPC "Party in the Park" in the Oval Lawn on May 3;
- Shake Shack Events (Conducted in the gravel area adjacent to the concession): Credit Suisse annual event on June 18; O'Donnell annual event on September 15;
- Madison Square Reads: author readings on Thursday evenings from September 17 through October 8, all free of charge and open to the public;
- Annual Tree-Lighting Event on the north end on Tuesday, December 6, free of charge and open to the public; and
WHEREAS, There is a significant reduction in the number of events in 2016, in keeping with Applicant's newly released Strategic Plan, which calls for less park-wide programming, and more instances of "pocket" programming: small, contained cultural events occupying a small footprint and without the use of amplified sound, to include guided history walks through the Park, artist talks, isolated musical performances, storytelling and collaborative art-making for children, to occur once a month for six months in 2016; and
WHEREAS, Community Board Five believes that this change in the emphasis of programming is greatly to the public's benefit, and will improve public access to the Oval Lawn on event days from prior years; and
WHEREAS, In response to community concerns, Applicant has committed to return to Community Board Five to separately discuss a potential fall fundraising event, as well as the Fall and Spring iterations of Madison Square Eats, and also to refrain from scheduling any large events on any weekend which would place it in a consecutive weekend as previously scheduled large event (i.e post-parade events or the Big Apple BBQ), pursuant to Community Board Five's Policy on Large Events; and
WHEREAS, Applicant additionally commits to appear before Community Board Five separately for the purpose of reviewing any marketing or commercial events, subject to Community Board Five's standard review process and public hearings; and
WHEREAS, There is long-standing precedent for these events in Madison Square Park and Community Board Five has found a significant amount of support for these events from residents and stakeholders in the community; and
WHEREAS, Applicant has agreed that if there are any material changes to any event from previous years (i.e., signage, set-up, scale, location, and/or ancillary activities), they will return and present these changes to Community Board Five; and when presenting future event applications, that they will clearly state whether or not these events are occurring concurrently with previously approved special events; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, Community Board Five recommends approval of the applications from Madison Square Park Conservancy for their annual roster of programming for 2016.