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Parks & Public Spaces
Application from iDEKO Productions on behalf of Carnival Cruises (“Applicant”) for “Carnival Cruises Beach-Themed Experience,” a marketing event in Greeley Square Park on December 12th and 13th, 2017 from 12:00pm to 6:00pm
WHEREAS, iDEKO Productions on behalf of Carnival Cruises ("Applicant") has submitted a permit application to hold "Carnival Cruises Beach-Themed Experience," a marketing event throughout Greeley Square Park aimed at promoting a cruise shop line by creating a setting of an island oasis with a steel drum band, scented air and a heated "tropical snow globe" dome tent with beach decor, on December 12th and 13th, 2017 from 12:00pm to 6:00pm; and
WHEREAS, The event will consist of a free giveaway to members of the public of ten Carnival Horizon cruises each day, for a total of 20 cruises, from a vending machine dispersing cans of scented air and other island themed giveaways such as sunglasses and inflatable beach balls, inside a dome tent structure to be decorated like a tropical snow globe; and
WHEREAS, Applicant estimates a total attendance of approximately 600 people during the two-day event, and guests will be strategically queued to attempt to manage pedestrian traffic flow in congested Greeley Square Park, with event to be staffed by approximately 15 people; and
WHEREAS, Applicant has hired an external sanitation company to ensure that event space remains clean and that giveaways and cans are properly recycled; and
WHEREAS, Signage will be displayed throughout the park with Carnival Cruises copy and logos, but no renderings or proposed sizes or types of signage were provided for review; and
WHEREAS, Filming will take place throughout the event for Applicant's marketing purposes, with language regarding image capture and filming to be posted at the park perimeters; and
WHEREAS, The event will feature a live steel drum band, continuously, along with a winning "ship horn" buzzer, 10 times per day, and Applicant has acknowledged sound rules and restrictions and applied for the requisite NYPD sound permit; and
WHEREAS, Although the Applicant is a competent production partner, and no members of the public commented on this application, Community Board Five has significant concerns about the entirety of an already-congested public space being occupied by a commercial event during peak holiday shopping season that employs amplified sound, filming of the public, corporate signage, and significant build-out; and
WHEREAS, In addition, the timing of the application being submitted to the Parks Department prevented a proper public hearing in advance of the event, resulting in Community Board Five's inability to fully and properly give this application its appropriate public hearing; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, Community Board Five recommends denial of the application from iDEKO Productions on behalf of Carnival Cruises ("Applicant") for "Carnival Cruises Beach-Themed Experience," a marketing event in Greeley Square Park on December 12th and 13th, 2017 from 12:00pm to 6:00pm; and be it further
RESOLVED, As the timing of the application being submitted to the Parks Department prevented a proper public hearing in advance of the event, Community Board Five continues to request that the Parks Department extend the minimum notice required of event applications to 45 days, to ensure that they can be given a proper public hearing.