Home News Central Park’s Great Lawn in New York City Shut Down After Suffering Damage During Global Citizen Festival 2023

Central Park’s Great Lawn in New York City Shut Down After Suffering Damage During Global Citizen Festival 2023

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Central Park Great Lawn Closure

The lush 12-acre expanse known as the Great Lawn in the heart of New York City’s Central Park has been temporarily sealed off from the public until April due to damage incurred during this year’s Global Citizen Festival, as reported by The New York Times. The Central Park Conservancy, entrusted with the park’s upkeep, made the difficult decision to close this iconic space after it suffered extensive wear and tear from a combination of heavy foot traffic and the use of heavy machinery, all exacerbated by a torrential rainstorm. Fortunately, Global Citizen Festival’s organizers have pledged to shoulder the financial burden of repairs.

In a statement, the Central Park Conservancy expressed its disappointment about the temporary closure of the Great Lawn, which has been a beloved gathering place for New Yorkers, especially during the fall season. The Conservancy explained that the decision was made after approximately one-third of the lawn was rendered unusable due to the unfortunate combination of circumstances during the festival.

Global Citizen, on the other hand, issued a statement to clarify its cooperation with government entities and the Central Park Conservancy in the lead-up to the event. It emphasized that this year’s festival required closer coordination with city agencies and stakeholders than ever before. Months prior to the festival on September 23 and throughout the week leading up to it, the organizers worked closely with the NYC Mayor’s Office, NYC Department of Parks & Recreation, Office of Emergency Management, NYPD, FDNY, and the Central Park Conservancy. Ultimately, it was the City of New York, the Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Central Park Conservancy that determined the festival should proceed even in the face of potential rain-related challenges.

Global Citizen also mentioned its ongoing commitment to cover any damage costs incurred as a result of the festival’s activities. This commitment has been in place since 2012 and was communicated to the Central Park Conservancy both before and after this year’s event.

However, not everyone is satisfied with this arrangement. Councilwoman Gale Brewer, representing the district that encompasses the park, penned a letter to Mayor Eric Adams, urging him to reconsider allowing Global Citizen to use the park in the future. She raised a valid concern, questioning the appropriateness of merely covering repair costs when the closure impacts the everyday enjoyment of the park by its regular visitors.

Shifting gears, let’s briefly touch on the festival itself. Global Citizen Festival 2023 was a musical extravaganza featuring performances by Ms. Lauryn Hill, who orchestrated a remarkable Fugees reunion on stage, and the ever-energetic Red Hot Chili Peppers. It’s worth noting that Megan Thee Stallion withdrew from the event, opting instead to perform in Houston alongside BeyoncĂ© during the same weekend.

Beyond the music, the festival had a broader purpose—to raise awareness for critical global issues. These included extreme poverty, the pressing climate crisis in the Global South, the global hunger crisis, and the profound inequalities faced by women and girls on an international scale. French President Emmanuel Macron made a significant announcement during the event, pledging $240 million from France and Norway to support the International Fund for Agricultural Development in its efforts to combat global hunger.

Lastly, it’s essential to recognize the corporate backing that made this event possible. Global Citizen Festival 2023 was proudly presented by Citi and Cisco, demonstrating how public-private partnerships can be a powerful force for positive change on the global stage.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Central Park Closure

Why was Central Park’s Great Lawn closed?

The Great Lawn in Central Park was closed due to extensive damage caused during the Global Citizen Festival in 2023. Heavy foot traffic and the use of heavy machinery, combined with a heavy rainstorm, led to the closure.

Who is responsible for managing Central Park?

The Central Park Conservancy is responsible for managing and maintaining Central Park, including decisions regarding its usage and repairs.

What was the Global Citizen Festival 2023?

The Global Citizen Festival 2023 was a music festival featuring performances by artists like Ms. Lauryn Hill and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. It aimed to raise awareness for global issues, including poverty and climate change.

What are the key issues raised at the festival?

The festival highlighted issues such as extreme poverty, the climate crisis in the Global South, global hunger, and gender inequalities faced by women and girls worldwide.

How is the damage caused by the festival being addressed?

Global Citizen Festival organizers have pledged to cover the cost of repairing the damage caused during the event, in addition to their annual fee for using the park.

Why did Councilwoman Gale Brewer object to Global Citizen using the park?

Councilwoman Gale Brewer expressed concerns about the impact of park closures on regular parkgoers and urged reconsideration of allowing future events like Global Citizen in Central Park.

More about Central Park Closure

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4 comments

TechGeek77 October 4, 2023 - 2:53 am

central park conservancy gotta fix that lawn, man. rainstorm disaster!

Reply
MusicLover22 October 4, 2023 - 3:53 am

wow, what a mess in Central park! global citizen fest causin’ chaos. 🙁

Reply
MovieBuff101 October 4, 2023 - 8:00 am

lauryn hill and red hot chili peppers rockin’ the fest. megan thee stallion missin’ out.

Reply
NatureFanatic October 4, 2023 - 1:51 pm

park closures ain’t cool, bruh. let people enjoy the greenery!

Reply

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