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Parks & Public Spaces
Applications from Madison Square Park Conservancy for Annual Roster of Programming in 2019
WHEREAS, Madison Square Park Conservancy ("Applicant") has submitted applications for their annual roster of programming for 2019, comprised of the following events:
- Kids Music Events: Kids Concert on six days throughout July and August;
- Fundraisers: Party in the Park in April; and Celebrate Madison Square Chefs in July;
- Horticultural ("Hort") Programming: "Open Green" lawn access seven days a week May through September; Lunchtime Migratory Bird Watching on four days in May; National Public Gardens Week Celebration in May; Lunchtime Hort Tour at noon on five days in June, July, August, September and October; Hort Talk on four days in June, July, August and September; Fireflies at Dusk on two days in July; Lunchtime Migratory Bird Watching on four days in September and October; Twilight Tour in October; Bats of Madison Square Park in October; Symposium and Symposium Cocktails in November;
- Art Programming: Lunchtime Exhibition Tours Every Wednesday, midday from early June until mid December; Leonardo Drew Opening Reception and Dinner in May and June; Art Talk on five days in June, July, August, September and October; Lunchtime Music on six days during July and August;
- Family Nights: Spring Family Night in July; and Fall Family Night in October;
- Celebratory Days: Arbor Day Celebration in April, Hydrangea Hurrah in June, Barkfest in June;
- Kids Fest: Stages in the Square in September; Howl-O-Ween in October; Veterans Day in November; Leaf Fest in November; and the Holiday Celebration & Tree Lighting in December; and
WHEREAS, Applicant has terminated the Big Apple BBQ and Madison Square Eats; and
WHEREAS, Applicant has pared down summer evening events from a larger stage with amplification in
the south end of Madison Square Park to acoustic small scale events in the north end of Madison Square
Park; and
WHEREAS, Applicant has significantly reduced the total number of events as well as the footprint for
many events; and
WHEREAS, Community Board Five believes that the nature of the programming is greatly to the public's
benefit, and will continue to improve public access to Madison Square Park on event days from prior
years; and
WHEREAS, Applicant has committed to return to Community Board Five to separately discuss any
additional marketing or commercial events in 2019, subject to Community Board Five's standard review
process and public hearings; and
WHEREAS, There is long-standing precedent for these kind of 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 2019.