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Parks & Public Spaces

February 2017, Parks Committee

Applications from Madison Square Park Conservancy for their annual roster of programming for 2017

WHEREAS, Madison Square Park Conservancy ("Applicant") has submitted applications for their annual roster of programming for 2017, comprised of the following events:

• Kids' Events: "Concerts for Kids" music program in the Farragut Lawn on Thursday mornings in June and July; "Art in the Park Making" art program (pertaining to summer exhibit) in the Redbud Lawn on Tuesday mornings June through August; "Storytime Series" live storytelling in the Sparrow Lawn on Wednesday mornings June through August; Kids' Fest Fall park-wide on Saturday, October 14, all free of charge and open to the public;
• Music Events: The Summer concert series in the Western Gravel Area, now six weekly shows on Wednesday evenings in July and August (down from eight in 2016);
• Fundraisers: Celebrate Flatiron Chefs on July 18; the MSPC Gala on May 16-18; and the Parktoberfest on October 11;
• Horticultural ("Hort") Programming: "Docent Program" for hort questions, weekly hort activities and phenology program around the fountain on Monday afternoons June through August; "Open Green" lawn access program all day Tuesday-Sunday May through October; "Drawing in the Park" drawing program with varying location, evenings on the third Thursday of the month April through September; "Hort Walks" lunchtime garden tours on the second Tuesday of the month April through November; "Full Moon Walks" nighttime garden tours on select nights April through September; "Hort Workshops" professional workshops with varying location on the third Sunday afternoon of the month April through August; with "Hort pop-up events" throughout the year;
• Celebratory Days: Earth Day Fair in the Western Gravel Area on Friday, April 21 morning-afternoon; Arbor Day Celebrations of trees throughout the park on Friday, April 28; Jane's Walk throughout the park on Friday, May 5; Sing for Hope piano project in Worth Square June 6-26; Hydrangea Hurrah on the Sparrow Lawn and Reflecting Pool on the afternoon of Saturday, June 24;
• Madison Square Art: A three-piece sculpture installation on the Oval Lawn which opens Tuesday, June 13 to be accompanied by a rotation of dance, poetry, and music residencies; and

WHEREAS, Community Board Five believes that the nature of the programming is greatly to the public's benefit, and will improve public access to the park on event days from prior years; and

WHEREAS, Applicant has committed to return to Community Board Five to separately discuss the Grey Group 100th Anniversary Marketing Event and the Big Apple Barbeque, as well as any marketing or commercial events in 2017, 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 2017.