During the 2004 Republican National Convention , NYC Parks denied protesters the right to organize in either the Great Lawn or North Meadow , citing concerns over possible damage to the turf . In 2005 , NYC Parks proposed setting a capacity limit on the Great Lawn to 50,000 people . Many groups and people objected to the proposed regulation , saying that it violated their right to congregate under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution . The proposal was withdrawn in 2008 . However , an independent report the following year recommended a 55,000-person capacity for the Great Lawn , implicitly supporting NYC Parks ' initial proposal
2004 Republican National Convention
2004 Republican National Convention
Great Lawn and Turtle Pond