March 17, 2006
Dear Friends of Freedom Park:
The first chance for the public to hear about the park department's plans to sell marketing and naming rights in Freedom Park was Wednesday, March 16 at Freedom Park's indoor shelter. Many thanks to all who attended. Three television stations covered the meeting . See http://www.enjoylifenow.com/Channel63.16.06.html
Approximately 30 residents were on hand and about six residents spoke against the plans and asked the park dept. to keep Freedom Park commercial-free. Many suggested that Scott Clark Toyota and other interested companies could simply donate money to the park if they wished to help out, but not commercialize the park with their advertising and promotions.
Friends of Freedom Park delivered 150 petitions to the park advisory committee to maintain Freedom Park commerical-free and specifically opposing the plan to sell marketing rights to Scott Clark Toyota dealership.
More petitions are needed! Please forward the petition
to others and continue building public support for keeping the park commercial
free.
http://www.enjoylifenow.com/NamingRightsPetition.html
1. The plan calls for Scott Clark Toyota to erect advertising
signs at each entrance to Freedom Park. These signs would remain for about
10 years.
No other auto-related companies could buy sponsorships in Freedom Park.
Scott Clark Toyota would gain "exclusive" marketing rights in
Freedom Park for the auto industry.
2. Additional signage would be on the island and band shell, which would be officially "sponsored" by Scott Clark Toyota.
3. Two events" would be held each year, sponsored by Scott Clark Toyota.
Scott Clark called these events "concerts" that would be co-sponsored by CBS Radio. A representative from CBS Radio was at the hearing with Scott Clark. This was the first time any residents heard about the involvement of CBS Radio.
CBS Radio, it turns out, is the owner of Infinity Radio
Subsidiary Operations Inc. that owns 7 radio stations in the Charlotte area.
-- "Power 98" - "Blazing Hip-Hop"
-- WBAV-FM "Hits and Oldies"
-- WFNZ 610 and 1660 AM "Sports Radio"
-- WSOC 103.7FM "Country"
-- "Kiss" 95.1FM "Hits and Concerts
-- K104.7FM "Cool Songs"
The Scott Clark proposal did not specify which radio station or how many stations would be involved in the two Scott Clark Toyota-sponsored "concerts" in Freedom Park.
Power 98, one of CBS's radio stations, was the sponsor of the infamous rock concert in Freedom Park some years ago that attracted nearly 25,000 young people. Reports of drinking, extremely loud music, litter, traffic congestion, blocked residential streets and driveways and strong protests from area residents led the park department to finally stop such events in Freedom Park
Park officials took no action at the March 16 meeting but several committee members made positive comments about the Scott Clark proposal, calling it "generous". Others thanked him for making the offer and noted how much the park needed the money. The park dept. would receive $100,000 over a nine-year period as the price for selling the above listed marketing rights to Scott Clark Toyota. Park Commissioners told us that the Park Dept. no longer has enough tax money to maintain Freedom Park as a public facility so it must sell private marketing rights to get more money.
The park dept. has developed a draft policy for selling commercial marketing rights in the park. The committee members noted that when a new policy is adopted other companies could also buy marketing rights in Freedom Park in addition to Scott Clark Toyota. No decision was made about Scott Clark's proposal, pending the deliberations over a policy to selling marketing rights in all county parks. The Advisory Committee noted that even if the policy is adopted, this does not automatically mean the Scott Clark Toyota proposal would be accepted. That would require a separate decision.
Please ask others to sign the petition to keep the park
commercial-free.
http://www.enjoylifenow.com/NamingRightsPetition.html
Sincerely,
Robert L. FitzPatrick
Friends of Freedom Park
1522 Lilac Rd., Charlotte, NC 28209
704-334-2047, Fax 704-334-0220
fitz3034@bellsouth.net