<p>West Tisbury selectmen gave approval Wednesday for a weekend summer series of events that will include an art installation and reflective hot air balloon at Long Point.</p>
West Tisbury selectmen gave approval Wednesday for a weekend summer series of events that will include an art installation and reflective hot air balloon at Long Point Wildlife Refuge.
Planned for the weekend of July 12, the events will be hosted by the Trustees of Reservations as part of its Art in the Landscape series. The plans have seen opposition from riparian owners around the Tisbury Great Pond.
At their meeting Wednesday, selectmen had multiple questions for Trustees leaders, including about traffic control, crowd management and use of alcohol at the events. Islands director Sam Hart said the Trustees are working to minimize adverse impacts.
“We’ve taken great pains to assess the impact to the biology in the area, to the osprey, to the shorebirds, to the wetlands. We have gotten approval from the [Federal Aviation Administration] for this installation,” Mr. Hart said.
A plan to hold a similar event at Katama Farm in Edgartown was turned down by the Edgartown conservation commission early this month.
Property owners who live around Long Point have raised concerns about wildlife, traffic and noise and whether the events are consistent with the goals of conservation. Selectmen pressed Trustees leaders on those issues.
“I am interested in hearing how you have addressed some of the objections,” Cynthia Mitchell said.
Mr. Hart responded.
“This is something that the Trustees has been at for months now working with conservationists from the state to make sure that the impact is going to be minimal,” he said. “To the characterization that it’s going to be a carnival-like atmosphere .... That’s just a mischaracterization. This really truly is an art installation.”
Jeffrey (Skipper) Manter 3rd, who is also a police officer, cited the remote location as a potential problem in the event of an emergency.
“I do respond down there sometimes in the summertime and it is extremely difficult to get down there,” Mr. Manter said.
Organizers said they had worked with the police chief to formulate traffic and safety plans. Trustees assistant superintendent Jack Klumick said the traffic in the area will be comparable to a typical beach day.
“We do 500 or 600 people on any given day,” he said.
Selectmen limited morning events to 100 people. Evening events will be limited to 600 people and 200 vehicles. Visitors will be required to reserve a parking pass when they buy tickets online. An attendant will check passes as people arrive at the event.
One person who lives near the refuge attended the meeting to say she supports the event, but she urged organizers to make plans to accommodate residents. Trustees leaders said they planned to attend a neighborhood meeting next month.
The balloon, which was designed by artist Doug Aitken, is expected to make several stops across Massachusetts in July with the aim of promoting new perspectives on nature through art.
It will appear at Long Point on Friday July 12 and Sunday July 14. A breakfast event from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. will include rides in the tethered balloon for $250 per person. In the evenings, there will be presentations about creativity and climate change along with music from a cellist and a light show. The nighttime events will cost $25 for members and $40 for non-members, and the balloon will remain on the ground. Children under six will be admitted for free.
All events will include the sale of alcohol.
Mr. Hart said they expect the event to have a positive outcome.
“We’re all here because we care about this event very much. We care about the Trustees. We care about the community,” he told selectmen.

Comments
If the riparian wealthy land
Up Island Resident West TisburyIf the riparian wealthy land owners think their land is so sacred to prevent the general public from access, then maybe we need to assess their tax base much higher to reflect those sacred values?
It's already done. By state
thomas hodgson wtIt's already done. By state law, waterfront and shoreline property is assessed at "market value". Waterfront property is valuable, and the assessments and taxes paid reflect that.
TOR,
Mike WTTOR,
Art is a wonderful way to bring people together to experience and immerse oneself in contemplation.
Please make an effort to keep traffic on Waldron Bottom Road for this event and for the summer in general.
How about putting an attendant at the main road asking folks for their tickets or entry pass and ask if they are residents of the area, and if not, please ask them to use Waldron Bottom Road please.
The adjacent road already sees a significant uptick in traffic when the summer entry is opened.
An example would be; 3-4 cars a day passing my house in shoulder and off season months. That goes up to close to 20-30 cars a day in the summer, some days even more.
What was a safe place for children to play becomes a moderately busy road, and unsafe for children and pets.
It is a private Road and we pay to keep it up.
With the increased traffic it wears the road out more quickly, we pay for TOR use of our road.
Not fair, not cool, and not safe. Please manage your traffic to your location and events.
Thank you
A local resident
100' reflective hot Air
JP West Tisbury100' reflective hot Air Balloon? Really? In West Tisbury,and the Farm in Edgartown? There are hundreds of horses, riders.other animals on this small Island that will be freaked out by such a sight. An accident ready to happen.
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