Despite a flurry of controversy in recent weeks over funding and street closures, excitement is mounting as the clock ticks and village officials, the Business Improvement District, and the Greenport Tall Ships Steering Committee look ahead to the once-in-a-lifetime Tall Ships 2015 event, set to sail into Greenport July 3 to 7.
Tall Ships steering committee’s message
The Greenport Tall Ships Steering Committee, comprised of elected village officials, village employees, representatives from the BID, Southold Town Police, Greenport Union Free School District, Greenport Fire Department, the East End Seaport Museum, and resident volunteers sent out a message yesterday and said that the group “affirms the Greenport Tall Ships 2015 event with great enthusiasm.”
According to the release, “The 2015 Tall Ships Challenge is unique due to the maiden voyage of the Hermione. A reconstruction touted as the most historically accurate Tall Ship ever built, labeled as ‘Freedom’s Frigate’, this historic ship brought the Marquis de Lafayette and French soldiers to the aid of General Washington during the American War of Independence.” To learn more about the Hermione, click here.
“Six Tall Ships, from four different countries, will grace our docks and be open for tours during the event,” the release reads.
Tickets are required for visitation and can be purchased here. Daily ship tour hours are from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Each ticket is good for one entire day, for the touring of all ships. Educational and sponsor exhibits will be located in Mitchell Park, and live music will be performed in two locations. A schedule of events can also be found on the website.
“Ticket sales are on track with projections, and based upon the four-day event duration, timing concurrent with July 4; and the participation of the Tall Ship Hermione, we expect significant ticket sales; and would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our invaluable sponsors,” the Tall Ships Committee said in the release.
Main and Front Streets will be closed to vehicular traffic from the intersection of 3rd Street and Front Street to Center Street and Main Street during the event hours. “This will result in a safety-oriented, pedestrian-friendly environment, enabling our local residents and visitors to enjoy the unique experience of the Tall Ships,” the statement said. “All other village streets will remain open to vehicular traffic. There will be special considerations and arrangements made for the elderly, disabled and employees of village establishments, to ensure access to the business district. Those arrangements will be finalized and announced shortly.”
Shops and restaurants in the business district will be “in full swing to create a wonderful shopping and dining experience. Additional facilities and hospitality will be provided to make the pedestrian mall environment and experience even more enjoyable,” the Tall Ships committee release said.
Update on funding, schedule, tickets, street closures
Meanwhile, at last night’s village board work session, Trustees Julia Robins and Jack Martilotta, liaisons to the Tall Ships committee, gave an update. Robins said the event schedule is in the process of being printed along with a map; once it’s complete, that information will be published on the village website.
Opening ceremonies for the event are scheduled for July 4 at 10 a.m.; elected officials including Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and Legislator Al Krupski are expected to attend.
Robins said advance tickets, which cost $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and $5 for children, are doing “quite well,” Robins said. The pre-sale ends on June 24; regular priced tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and $10 for kids; family packs are available. For tickets, click here.
The Long Island Rail Road will offer expanded service on July 4 and 5 for the event.
Volunteers are needed, Robins said. At least 50 volunteers is the goal; volunteers will work a minimum of four hours and receive perks, including two free tickets, an event staff T-shirt, beverages, snacks, and a letter of thanks from the village. Volunteering is a great opportunity for students seeking community service opportunities, she said. Those wishing to volunteer should arrive at 9:45 a.m. at the Old Schoolhouse each day to offer their services.
As for sponsorships, Robins said the village was “on track” to receive the full pledged $100,000; as of Wednesday, $91,875 was in hand.
Radio and TV spots are set to begin in earnest.
Current ticket sales, Robins said, are ahead of the expected pace and exceed sales for the last Tall Ships event in this time period.
Martilotta said the goal is to try and divert parking toward the high school with signs put up in advance to direct motorists.
Robins said Southold Police Chief Flatley has maintained for months that, for the safety of pedestrians, the best thing to do was to keep the streets closed for all four days. But, Mayor George Hubbard said, if crowds seem less on Tuesday and the closures are no longer warranted, the streets can be reopened. “We’re going to use common sense,” he said.
Trustees Doug Roberts and Mary Bess Phillips asked if there was a plan for those trying to park and shop at the IGA. The board discussed possible one hour parking.
Hubbard said that would be hard to enforce. Roberts asked if volunteers could enforce parking regs; Hubbard said he didn’t want to put young people in that position. Phillips agreed, saying in the past, some irate drivers have come “fist to cuffs” over parking spaces.
Hubbard said the village doesn’t currently have a parking officer. Hubbard said he’d explore options with the Town of Southold.
Roberts also said although some knew about the street closures, he did not, and he’d like to “take control of this event” by passing a resolution stating that the streets would be closed. “From my perspective, the trustees control the streets and sidewalks. There’s a lot of concern that a group of non-elected officials, that operates mostly in secret, has closed our streets and sidewalks.”
Hubbard said a reso isn’t needed but would help to clarify what’s closed for residents. “We’re not being told by the BID or anyone else to close the streets,” he said, adding that the decision was made months ago but not all the store owners — some of whom are now upset that the streets will be closed, cutting off business on one of their busiest weekends — might have known. “It shouldn’t have been a surprise for someone with a store on Front Street to know that streets would be closed during the Tall Ships event,” he said.
Robins said the topic of street closure was discussed “early on” and Flatley said the streets would be closed for safety. “This is not something that came last minute,” she said.
Martilotta said the chief made the decision for a number of reasons, including foot traffic that might spill out onto the street; if an emergency vehicle needed access and the street was clogged with cars, that might prove disastrous. “You can’t argue with safety,” Martilotta said.
Others have been concerned about outside vendors. Hubbard said only eight are expected. The regular food court will be set up on Main Street, he said. Bands will be on the west side of Mitchell Park, behind the post office.
Meanwhile, the board voted to pay the last fees for the ships, which are due soon. Roberts said he’s happy to get behind the event fully now that the money’s in hand.
Spirits were high as the board expressed excitement. “Hopefully the weather will be beautiful and we’ll have a great” few days, Hubbard said.
For additional information on the event, click here.
