CORONA — The Madison Square Garden Company wants to throw a massive three-day music and arts festival at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park — in the second controversial bid to turn the public parkland into a private playground.
MSG officials announced Monday they filed permits for a three-day festival for June 24 - 26, with world-renowned musicians and interactive activities, according to a press release.
They anticipate more 75,000 attendees each day, and said a June 18 free event for locals would feature a Knicks basketball camp, another concert with local acts, vendors and more.
"As a New York company, we are ideally suited to produce a successful festival in Queens that not only celebrates the very best in music but also provides tangible, long-term benefits to the local community in a way no one else can,” said David O’Connor, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Madison Square Garden Company.
While they didn't name any specific musicians, they said artists from nearly every genre will perform over the course of three days. It's not clear if guests could stay overnight at the park, like at similar festivals throughout the country.
The announcement comes weeks after another company, AEG, said it plans to file permits for another festival at the park, which is also home to the U.S. Open, Citi Field, two museums, a zoo and other attractions.
A spokeswoman for the Parks Department confirmed it received permit applications from both Madison Square Garden and AEG to host events in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in June and they are under review.
But Borough President Melinda Katz said any plan that takes away park land from the public should go through a review process.
“There must also be engagement with the affected community and a real accounting of the adverse and residual impacts on the surrounding neighborhoods,” she said — saying the park is enjoyed by thousands of families who have birthday parties, barbecues and other celebrations.
There are also long-established events at the park that coincide with the proposed dates of this festival, she wrote.
She was also skeptical about the return for local communities.
“Quite frankly, it’s still unclear how limited resources expended for events of such scale would be returned to Queens and its families,” she said.
It’s not clear how much money MSG would commit to the park and nearby communities, and it’s also unclear how it would be distributed.
An alliance announced as part of the USTA expansion deal in 2013 has yet to be formed. As a result of the delay, the $10.05 million agreed upon as part of the deal is still waiting in limbo. The mayor’s office did not immediately respond to an email asking for an update on the alliance, which would be in charge of private dollars throughout the park.
