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Parks & Public Spaces

Applications from Madison Square Park Conservancy for their annual roster of programming for 2018

WHEREAS, Madison Square Park Conservancy ("Applicant") has submitted applications for their annual roster of programming for 2018, comprised of the following events:

·         Music Events: The Summer Nights concert series in the Southern Gravel Area, now six weekly shows on Wednesday evenings in July and August; "Kids Concerts" music program in the Southern Gravel Area in the mornings before Summer Nights series;

·         Fundraisers: Celebrate Mad. Square Chefs on July 17; the MSPC Gala on April 23; and the Parktoberfest on October 11 (tentative date);

·         Horticultural ("Hort") Programming: "Open Green" lawn access program all day Tuesday-Sunday May through October; "Draw Your Park" drawing program with varying location, evenings on June 28, July 26 and August 30; "Hort Tours" lunchtime garden tours on the second Tuesday of the month May through November; "Full Moon Walk" nighttime garden tour on October 24; "Migratory Bird Day" bird watching around the Park on May 22 and October 16; "Fireflies at Dusk" observing fireflies near the Gravel on July 31, Morning melodies during peak bloom weeks for 3 Saturdays May, July, and November, Lunchtime storytelling on Thursdays from May 3-24 and June 28-July 19; with "Hort pop-up events" throughout the year;

·         Art Programming: "Delirious Nights" evening events corresponding to the art exhibition Delirious Matter on the first Tuesday of the month June-August in different locations; Art Talks at the Reflecting Pool or Oval Lawn in evenings on the second Thursday of the month May-August; "Art Tours" weekly lunch tours around the current art exhibition May-August; with "Art pop-up events" throughout the year;

·         Celebratory Days: Arbor Day Celebrations of trees throughout the park on Friday, April 27; Hydrangea Hurrah around the Reflecting Pool on the afternoon of Saturday, June 23; Bark Fest a celebration of dogs at the Southern Gravel on July 21; Leaf Fest community engagement leaf raking around the Park on Saturday November 17; Annual tree lighting ceremony December 6; 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 Big Apple Barbecue, as well as any marketing or commercial events in 2018, 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 2018.

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