Hello, good morning.

Welcome to today's New York City Council hearing for the Committee on Parks and Recreation.

At this time, please silence all phones if you wish to speak in today's hearing.

Please fill out an appearance card with one of the sergeants.

Moving forward, no one is to approach the day's chair.

You may begin.

Good

morning.

Thank

you.

Good

morning, all my name is Ty Hankerson.

I serve as the chair on the Committee of Parks and Recreation.

Today's hearing will focus on the process the parks department uses to determine the types of events that take place within our city's parks and what the resulting costs and benefits are to the park system.

The

occurrence of cultural and recreational programming, such as art festivals, films, and concerts, have always been a core feature of the city park system.

Most of these events are free and sometimes run by parks itself

or

through its numerous public-private partners.

However, some of these events are also pay for events that include thousands of participants and often run by event promoters that have a permit with the parks.

There's a multifaceted process for approving these various events.

For example, any event with more than 20 participants at minimum requires a special event permit for a non-refundable $25 fee.

As the event grows more complex, so does the process.

In the case of large events that involve more than 500 participants or maybe commercial in nature, parks imposes additional requirements that must be fulfilled before a permit is issued.

These can include fees based on the concession for sorry, concession fee schedule and additional insurance or bonding obligations.

Furthermore, depending on the scope, location, and size of the event, additional permits from agencies like the Department of Buildings or PD, police department for potential security concerns may be necessary.

Aside from the substance of the event, other requirements can factor in too.

If food or merchandise is expected to be sold, a temporary use authorization TUA permit is required.

A fee for this permit is negotiated with parks based on several factors, including the number of vendors at the event, estimated attendance, and the prices of the items being sold.

Once all the requirements have been met by the applicant, parks will issue a special event permit at their discretion.

The

complexity of this process can sometimes be problematic from both the side of the event applicant and the parks department, as it must walk a fine line towards maintaining a vibrant parks environment that also prioritizes equitable access to all New Yorkers.

Event applicants, especially smaller community-based ones, often cite issues with not being able to fully understand what is required to secure a permit and not understanding the reasons as to why they may have been denied

one.

There have been concerns raised about the amount of parkland used for large ticketed events,

the

amount of revenue being generated for the event, and the condition the park is left in after the event concludes.

Damage resulting from large crowds, vehicles, vendors, and bad weather during some of these events has sometimes left sections of parkland unusable for extended periods of

time.

This has sometimes left many community members concerned that some large and commercial events can deprive New Yorkers of quality access to green space.

Excuse me, always respectful to the parks where they occur and to the communities they occur in.

I'd also like to note that we will consider a bill unrelated to this topic, but an important one regardless.

This would restore the street to its original and historical name

and

clear up a lot of confusion, specifically relating to mail delivery that has arisen over the years.

I'd like to welcome the administration and the advocates that are here to testify today.

Thank you again.

I do have a statement from uh Councilmember Brooks Powers regarding her bill.

I'm going to read it verbatim.

Thank you, Chair Hankerson and members of the Committee on Parks and Recreation for hearing intro 927 today.

Intro 927 is a simple bill renaming Shorefront Parkway to Edgemere Avenue between Beach 32nd and Beach 56th place in Far Rockway, Queens.

We are requesting that Shorefront Parkway be renamed back to Edgemere Avenue, the name it held until a 2024 renaming.

Because the current street name is not consistently recognized by USPS, Google Maps, and other address systems.

This address discrepancy results in failed deliveries of mail and packages challenges for emergency responders and city service responders, excuse me, city service providers to locate properties quickly and accurately.

Uh, and disruptions to essential services that rely on validated addresses addresses, including utility and insurance providers.

Restoring the street name to Edgemere Avenue would align the address with commonly recognized mailing and mapping databases, improve public safety, and eliminate operational issues for future residents and businesses.

Notably, this this stretch of street runs along the future site of Arvern East,

a

multifaceted development that will transform 116 acres of vacant land into 1,650 new housing units, including 80% affordable housing.

We like to hear that, as well as co hold co-op home ownership opportunities.