Although the new edict from the police department will curb the street activities of parades, Mayor Michael Bloomberg's decision last month to make the car-free zones on Broadway permanent provides additional space for public gatherings and promotions. Less than a year old, the spots in Times Square, Herald Square, and the Flatiron district have already seen stunts from big brands like, VH1, Nike, WE TV, and Toyota. At present, there is no single agency that handles the booking of these locations; here's who to contact at this point in time:
Times Square
With the most visibility, the pedestrian plazas in Times Square have the biggest draw, running from 42nd to 47th Street beside Military Island and Duffy Square. Following the results of a design competition launched by the Department of Transportation and the Times Square Alliance on Wednesday, these sections will sport a new look. The Times Square Alliance still handles events at Duffy Square, but the Street Activity Permit Office oversees the use of the pedestrian areas as well as Military Island. All information, including applications, rules, and the new fee scale introduced last June are available on the agency's Web site, nyc.gov/sapo.
Herald Square
Currently, the 34th Street Partnership will coordinate the use of the areas adjacent to Herald Square and Greeley Square, helping to secure the necessary permits based on the event's type, size, and technical requirements. More information—including the data to submit with a proposal—is available on the organization's Web site, 34thStreet.org, and inquires can be made via email.
Madison Square Park
The plazas in the Flatiron district, which stretch from 22nd to 25th Street, run alongside the western edge of Madison Square Park, but the park's conservancy doesn't handle the programming in these areas. The Flatiron 23rd Street Partnership does, and it encourages planners to send requests directly to the Street Activities Permit Office at nyc.gov/sapo.
