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Parks & Public Spaces
Application from Madison Square Park Conservancy for “American Express Back to Business Outdoor Workspace,” a marketing event in Madison Square Park from September 22nd to 24th, 2021
At the regularly scheduled monthly Community Board Five meeting on Thursday, September 09, 2021, the following resolution passed with a vote of 33 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstaining:
WHEREAS, Madison Square Park Conservancy (the “Applicant”), in association with American Express, the event sponsor, has submitted an application to install a temporary outdoor workspace for public use in Madison Square Park from load-in on Wednesday September 22nd to removal on Friday September 24th; and
WHEREAS, The temporary installation will consist of three benches with desks, three privacy “phone” booths, and three branded static charging stations, and;
WHEREAS, The temporary workstation elements are confined to the gravel section of the park southwest of the fountain bordered by 23rd street and Broadway; and
WHEREAS, The temporary workspace elements will not damage the ground surface of the park; and
WHEREAS, Load-in, assembly and removal will take place at night to avoid interfering with the public’s use of the park; and
WHEREAS, All temporary workspace elements will be located to achieve proper social distancing between the elements; and
WHEREAS, The benches are 6’x3’, with room for two people to sit at a time with approximately 4’ of space between them, and will be assigned one per person unless there is significant interest in which event staffers will communicate with the interested users if they mind sharing the other half of the bench; and
WHEREAS, The three charging stations will have two pull out folding work tables each and only one person will be allowed at each folding desk, with about 5-6 feet clearance between them; and
WHEREAS, The phone booths will be equipped with a ventilation port, event ambassadors will encourage the public to use a mask in the booth, the door will be kept open after each use to promote air circulation, and the booths will be thoroughly cleaned by ambassadors after every use; and
WHEREAS, All temporary workspace elements will be sanitized after each use using recommended COVID-19 cleaning protocols; and
WHEREAS, Four brand ambassadors and one production staff member will be present from 8am to 8pm to facilitate the public’s use of the space and maintain COVID-19 protocols; and
WHEREAS, Security will be present at all times during the event; and
WHEREAS, If there is a queue to use the installations, the ambassadors will impose a 30-minute time limit at each element and ask users to accommodate new guests for crowd control, with a standing/ waiting area to be designated if necessary; and
WHEREAS, There is no press component, no service sign-ups, no food, no giveaways, no lights, or amplified sound associated with this event; and
WHEREAS, Release waivers will be provided in the event of any photography; and
WHEREAS, The American Express signage and logos are located only on the pieces of the temporary furniture and are minimal in size and placement; and
WHEREAS, The event sponsor is making a generous contribution to the Madison Square Park Conservancy, as the third of their four allowed annual marketing events to raise funds in order to maintain the park and provide programming for the benefit of the community; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, Community Board Five recommends approval of the Application from Madison Square Park Conservancy for “American Express Back to Business Outdoor Workspace,” a marketing event in Madison Square Park from September 22nd to 24th, 2021.