MOUNT VERNON’S ECONOMIC RISE IS REAL
Three large events this month are designed to enhance Mount Vernon as an entertainment destination.
We are already home to entertainment icons and sports legends like Denzel Washington, Diddy and Phylicia Rashad, so activating $1 billion in commerce is worth the energy to generate fun and funds for years to come.
These events — a pop-up beach, fireworks and the Mount Vernon Arts Festival — are part of a sequence of plans to strengthen quality of life along the Hutchinson River.
The Sandz Caribbean Music Festival on June 16 attracted up about 5,000 and the promoters put about 500 tons of clean, safe, premium sand on the field to create a pop-up beach environment.
Mount Vernon’s annual fireworks show is scheduled for June 22 at Memorial Field because Mount Vernon High School is under construction. The public will be invited to watch the show from a safe distance at the Best Buy parking deck and Garden Avenue will be reserved for food trucks and pedestrians.
The Mount Vernon Arts Festival at the Mes Hall on Washington Street is also on June 22 from noon to 5 p.m. The outdoor graffiti gallery will have food and vendors for teens and young adults who celebrate hip-hop culture.
Some might ask: Why spend so much time and effort promoting parties in Mount Vernon when the City has other challenges that need urgent attention?
The simple answer is economics. In the 21st century, those of us interested in urban development are constantly hearing three buzz words: location, destination and experience. Some contemporary urban planning experts say these three factors determine a city’s success and prosperity.
Luckily, Mount Vernon already has one of these factors — location — in its pocket because of our proximity to New York City and Grand Central Terminal. It’s a huge jewel in our crown that we are a 22-minute commuter train ride away from Midtown Manhattan.
As for the second factor — destination — that’s happening because for the third year in a row the UniverSoul Circus decided that Mount Vernon is an ideal destination for their audience. Sandz wanted to be at Hutchinson Field for the same reason.
The June 22 fireworks show will bring crowds of people from outside Mount Vernon to our retail corridor. Perhaps some of the fireworks attendees will stop by Target for some shopping, or maybe they’ll eat at one of the many restaurants along Sandford Boulevard.
The third factor — experience — is why my administration organizes so many events. Once visitors come to Mount Vernon, we must ensure that their experience is positive. By offering a diversity of events ranging from a circus to a pop-up beach to fireworks and a graffiti festival, we are ensuring that visitors are safely entertained so that they leave with happy thoughts, which translate into positive experiences and word-of-mouth.
These events accomplish other goals. The Sandz transformation of Hutchinson Field gave the public a glimpse of my vision for Mount Vernon Shores, an artificial beach I proposed next to the Hutchinson River after the City relocates a public works yard that has polluted the river.
The Sandz, fireworks and arts festival advance strategic plans like the Canal Village Revitalization Plan, the Mayor’s Arts & Culture Plan and the NYU Tourism Plan for Mount Vernon, all of which are intended to drive $1 billion in new economy activity.
This is all consistent with Mount Vernon’s identity as home to entertainment icons like Dick Clark or Heavy D. These events are critical because they respect our proud history as a platform for talent to reach stardom.
This vision is about fun and funds. For visitors a good time and for residents, funds to drive down property taxes. The more responsible, safe fun — the more responsible and reliable tax dollars for jobs and growth.
The bottom line is that Mount Vernon is rising, and we’re going to have a good time while it’s happening.
