Performer FAQ

7/30/2019 Performer FAQ

1/16Page 1 of

Effective May 8, 2013, Parks has claried the rules applicable to selling paintings,prints, photography, reading material, and sculpture, or providing entertainmentin exchange for a fee or donation in City parks

The rules are available at www.nyc.gov/parks/rules. Vendors can learn more by reading the rules,FAQs below, or by calling 311.

In 2010, Parks established rules designed to balance the interests of vendors of expressive matter who wish to op-erate in City parks and visitors to parks. The rules provide expressive matter vendors with reasonable opportunities through limited time, place, and manner restrictions - to vend in parks. In the parks most signicantly impactedby expressive matter vendors (Union Square, Battery Park, High Line, and certain portions of Central Park), the rulesrestrict expressive matter vending to specic locations. The expressive matter vendor rules are in line with Parksongoing efforts to balance the many competing uses of our green spaces, which include quiet enjoyment, activerecreation, cultural and community events, and opportunities to vend expressive matter.

In 2012, Parks determined that it needed to clarify these rules. The clarication, which takes effect May 8, 2013,conrms Parks original intent: that the rules apply to vendors who sell or solicit donations in exchange for tangibleitems such as books, paintings, prints, photographs and sculptures, as well as to performers who provide entertain-ment, such as musical performances, dance, juggling, or other performance arts in exchange for a fee or donation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Why did Parks need to clarify the rules?Based on questions raised in litigation not involving Parks, the Agency in spring 2012 determined it was necessaryto temporarily suspend enforcing the rules against performers and clarify that the rules apply to performers and en-tertainers. The clarication provides clearer information to both the general public and expressive matter vendors.

Q. Are the rules changing for vendors of paintings, prints, photography, reading materials, and sculpture?No. The same rules will continue to apply to vendors of paintings, prints, photography, reading materials, and sculp-ture. The clarication simply conrms that Parks always intended that the rules apply to people providing entertain-ment in exchange for a fee or donation.

Q. Will the rules be enforced differently?No. Enforcement of the rules will continue in the same way it has with respect to those who sell or seek donationsfor books and artwork. The only change is that Parks will resume applying the rules to performers and entertainers.Additional information on the rules applicable to vending in parks can be found below: In the four parks with designated vending spots (Union Square, Battery Park, High Line, and certain portions of

Central Park), performers, like all other expressive matter vendors, will need to sell or solicit donations from thedesignated spots, which are marked with Parks medallions on the ground.

Outside of the areas with designated vending spots, the rules primarily impact expressive matter vendors usinga display table to sell their items. The rules restrict the size of display tables and their proximity to curbs, busstops, park furniture, monuments, fountains, and public art installations. It is important to reiterate that theseproximity restrictions, which include a prohibition on vending within fty (50) feet of a monument or within ve(5) feet of park furniture, ONLY apply to vendors using a display table to sell items. Because performers do nottypically use display tables, the rules should not impact the majority of performers and buskers in parks withoutdesignated vending spots.

There are general rules that apply to all vendors (including entertainers and performers) on Parks property. Forexample, no one is permitted to vend in playgrounds or pools.

There are also general requirements for performances and events in parks that are expected to draw largecrowds.


2/16Page 2 of

Please continue reading for additional FAQs about the rules for vending expressive matter in City Parks. You can alsovisit www.nyc.gov/parks/rules to read the rules. As always, Parks Enforcement Patrol ofcers in City parks will seekto explain the rules to vendors and the public and work to bring vendors into compliance.Q. Who must follow these rules?The rules apply to expressive matter vendors (anyone selling paintings, prints, photography, reading material, orsculpture whether original or mass-produced, or providing entertainment, such as musical performance, juggling, ordance, in exchange for a fee or donation) who operate in City parks.

Q. What do the rules require?The rules establish general standards for expressive matter vendors in parks, such as where vending is permittedand the allowable location, size, and set up of a display table.

Q. Who enforces the rules?Parks Enforcement Patrol (PEP) Ofcers and New York Police Department (NYPD) Ofcers enforce the rules.

Q. How do the rules affect an expressive matter vendor using a display table to sell items?Ifyou use a display table, the table must:

Expressive MatterVendor Stand Requirements

Edge of sidewalk or path

Park or street furniture

TABLE

TABLE 12 ft.+2 ft.

5

12 ft.

provide at least a twelve (12) foot wide clear pedestrian path unless speci-cally otherwise allowed at a designated spot.

occupy a space no more than eight (8) feet long by three (3) feet wide parallel

to the curb or park path. must abut the curb unless specically otherwise allowed at a designated

spot. stand between two (2) to ve (5) feet high. be more than ve (5) feet from any park or street furniture. be more than fty (50) feet from a monument, public art installation, including

ornamental fountains.

Q. All of my items do not t on my display table. What can I do?You may use the area below your display table to store additional items, butyou must use a covering, like a tablecloth, to shield these items from view.

Q. Can vendors leave tables or store anything overnight?

No. Vendors must set up when a park opens and everything must be removed fromthe park when the park closes.

Q. What happens if I do not comply with the rules?Failure to comply can lead to a summons and possibly arrest.

Q. What if I do not use a display table to vend?Vendors are not permitted to place items they intend to sell directly on a sidewalk or park path, on a blanket orboard directly on the sidewalk or park path, or on a trash bin, park wall, bench, or other street or park furniture orpark feature, such as a rock, tree, shrub, or planting.


3/16Page 3 of

Rules Applicable to Expressive Matter Vendors in Union Square Park, Battery Park,High Line Park, and certain sections of Central Park

Q. Where can expressive matter vendors set up in these parks?Non-mobile vendors, regardless of whether they use a display table, may only occupy available spots designated byParks (see attached maps for the number and location of these spots in each park). In Central Park, vendors may oc-cupy areas outside the zones where spots have been designated as long as they comply with all other Parks rules.

Please note: The reconstruction of the plaza in front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which began in October 2012,is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2014. Because of the plaza reconstruction, designated spots for expressivematter vendors in the plaza are currently inaccessible and expressive matter vendors are no longer be able to vend atthis location. However, a location variance, authorizing vending at another nearby location has been granted. For addi-tional information regarding the construction and a location variance, please read the attached Metropolitan Museumof Art Construction Update.

Q. How will I recognize designated vending spots?Spots are marked with a Parks medallion on the ground. Vendors must set up centereddirectly behind the medallion. In Union Square Park, daily, expressive matter vendors areauthorized to vend directly behind the green-colored medallions. On Tuesdays, Thursdays,and Sundays, expressive matter vendors in Union Square Park are also authorized to venddirectly behind the gray-colored medallions.

Q. How many expressive matter vendors may use a designated spot?One vendor at a time behind each medallion, on a rst-come, rst-serve basis.

Q. When are designated spots available?Designated spots are available for expressive matter vendors when the park opens and until it closes. Times are: Cen-tral Park, 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.; High Line Park: June 1 - September 30, 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m., October 1 - November 307:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., December 1 - March 31, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., April 1 - May 31, 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.,; UnionSquare Park, 6:00 a.m. to midnight; Battery Park, 6:00 a.m. to midnight.

Q. What if all the designated spots for expressive matter vendors are taken?

If all the designated spots are taken by other vendors, vendors can go to another park. In the case of Central Park, therare areas that do not require vending at a designated spot. However, vendors will still have to abide by all other appli-cable rules.

Q. Can spots be reserved?No.

For more information, please visitwww.nyc.gov/parks/rules or call 311.

NYCDPR

EX

P

RESS

IVE MA T T E RV E N

D

O

R


4/16Page 4 of

METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART PLAZA CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

Notice: Construction at Metropolitan Museum of Art Plaza and Impact on Expressive MatterVendors

Planned reconstruction of the plaza in front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Museum)began in October 2012, and is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2014. During the plaza re-construction, designated spots for expressive matter vendors in the plaza will be inaccessible tovendors because of ongoing construction activity. The plaza areas where other vendors operate wilalso be disrupted.

To allow for additional space to vend to address the displacement of expressive matter vendors,

the Commissioner of the Department of Parks & Recreation has issued a variance to the ParksRules so that expressive matter vendors will be allowed to vend at the perimeter of Central Park(the West side of Fifth Avenue) between East 77th and East 78th Streets without complying withthe requirement that they only vend at a designated spot. The variance will be in effect throughoutthe construction period, unless it is determined during the construction that vending cannot besafely accommodated at the new location.

While vending in the area covered by the variance, the expressive matter vendors must continue tocomply with all other Parks Rules, including the general rules applicable to expressive matter ven-dors as set forth in Title 56 1-05(b)(4)-(8) of the Parks Rules.

These general rules, among other requirements, direct that display tables must: (a) provide at leasta twelve (12) foot wide clear pedestrian path; (b) occupy no more than eight (8) feet long by three (3feet wide parallel to the curb or park path; (c) abut the sidewalk curb; (d) be more than ve (5) feetfrom any park or street furniture; or (e) be more than fty (50) feet from any public art installationor monument, including ornamental fountains.

The Department would like to remind expressive matter vendors that they may also vend at nu-merous other locations in Central Park where they are not required to vend from designated spots.Such locations include, but are not limited to the perimeter of Central Park above 85th Street.Please visit the Parks website for the full text of Parks Rules and additional information about the

rules relating to expressive matter vending atwww.nyc.gov/parks/rules.

The variance and any changes or revocation will be posted on Parks website at www.nyc.gov/parksIn addition, as part of a general outreach program Parks Enforcement Patrol (PEP) will make rea-sonable efforts to notify and educate the expressive matter vendors as necessary and appropriateand at such time if the variance is changed or revoked.


5/16Page 5 of

UNDER

CONSTRUCTION

NOVEN

DING

SPOTS

UNDER

CONSTRUCTION

NOVEN

DING

SPOTS

VarianceLocation*


6/16Page 6 of


7/16Page 7 of


8/16Page 8 of


9/16


10/16Page 10 of

UNDE

RCONSTR

UCTION

N

OVENDINGSPOTS


11/16Page 11 of

UNDERC

ONSTRUCTION

NOV

ENDINGSPOTS


12/16Page 12 of


13/16Page 13 of


14/16Page 14 of


15/16Page 15 of


16/16

Documents

Performer FAQ