in Midtown Manhattan is being operated in such a businesslike fashion - including charging fees for holding events, and allowing corporate sponsorships - that it barely seems like a public space anymore. NYT
No park managers have embraced commercialism with the enthusiasm of the Bryant Park Restoration Corporation, which runs the only public park in the city that receives no public money.
In the past few months, Bryant Park has played host to Fashion Week, sponsored by Olympus; summer movies underwritten by HBO; a concert series put on by ABC; and a book fair supported by The New York Times. Much of the eight-acre park is currently occupied by a privately operated holiday market and by an ice-skating rink sponsored by Citi. Each sponsor generally pays a rental fee and is allowed to post its corporate name as part of the event.
There are so many requests for private events that the corporation employs a small staff to sort through applications seeking permits for corporate parties, family celebrations and promotional events for new products, including Microsoft Windows Media Edition and Coffee-Mate, which had representatives dressed in cow suits passing out samples last spring. The fees vary, depending on factors including whether the event is open to the public.
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In the past few months, Bryant Park has played host to Fashion Week, sponsored by Olympus; summer movies underwritten by HBO; a concert series put on by ABC; and a book fair supported by The New York Times. Much of the eight-acre park is currently occupied by a privately operated holiday market and by an ice-skating rink sponsored by Citi. Each sponsor generally pays a rental fee and is allowed to post its corporate name as part of the event.
There are so many requests for private events that the corporation employs a small staff to sort through applications seeking permits for corporate parties, family celebrations and promotional events for new products, including Microsoft Windows Media Edition and Coffee-Mate, which had representatives dressed in cow suits passing out samples last spring. The fees vary, depending on factors including whether the event is open to the public.
(just to store that away, since i am too cheap to "upgrade" to NYTimes_select...)
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