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April 03, 08

Hollywood

Park Entertainment

Mimes, buskers and food carts could soon invade Young Circle

By Jonathan Del Marcus

The city of Hollywood tentatively approved a new program aimed at turning Young Circle into a mini French Quarter (à la Jackson Square in New Orleans), complete with all manner of street performers, hot dog hawkers and artisans.

The city’s proposed ArtsPark Busker and Vendor Program got the nod from the city commission on March 19. The commission’s unanimous approval amends on first reading a city ordinance already on the books that governs merchants and vendors. A second hearing is required for full approval.

Plans are under way to allow food vendors, craft artisans, musicians, jugglers, mimes, storytellers and actors to engage the strolling public inside ArtsPark at Young Circle.

The ordinance will establish an “arts marketplace” in the center plaza of ArtsPark, while space and performance times for buskers will be established by a future city resolution. Performers will be auditioned to ensure variety, and the city will grant 90-day permits to the chosen buskers. Performers will work for tips and sell complementary merchandise, such as CDs or juggler balls.

“I like this program a lot. I think it’s great for the ArtsPark,” said City Commissioner Beam Furr, adding that if the strictures of the ordinance discourage musicians from applying to perform, he would advocate a loosening of the regulations.

A total of 10 vendor spaces will be allowed along the perimeter of the Central Plaza area. Vendor permits will also be given in 90-day increments.

“This entire program requires hands-on management,” said Steve Shulman, director of the city of Hollywood’s ArtsPark at Young Circle. “How they present their wares is very important to it.”

Food sales through the program will be limited to possibly two vendors selling simple snacks and drinks, Shulman added. At the strong urging of City Commissioner Fran Russo, the issuance of food vendor permits will be an open process, but every opportunity will be afforded to local restaurants who would like to sell snacks and drinks at the ArtsPark.

Similar programs in other cities such as New York, Boston, Alexandria, Va., and Santa Clara, Calif., were reviewed to understand how the cities regulated the performers and vendors.

“What you see is a compilation of the best ideas from those places,” Shulman said.

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