in and around the park, public space, NYC & more
The original tagline of Washington Square Park Blog, which published its first post slightly over fifteen years ago today (2.26.08) covering the redesign of Washington Square Park by the Bloomberg Administration, was: “the chronicles of … Read more…
Greenwich Village History: “Free From Mainstream Convention” – Has This Spirited Notion Come and Gone? Up until recently, I felt in many ways Washington Square Park remained informed by the free spirited “Arch Conspirators”‘ takeover … Read more…
Washington Square Park’s Christmas tree lighting will take place on Wednesday, December 7th for the 98th year. The Washington Square tree lighting ceremony is older than Rockefeller Center’s tradition. The tree will be lit at … Read more…
All Souls Day: 20,000 Bodies Buried Underneath the Park Updated – This time of year seems to rile up and unearth the dead bodies beneath Washington Square Park. It is believed up to 20,000 … Read more…
On Sunday, October 28, 2012, New York City was shutting down the entire subway system at 7 p.m., 469 stations, normally in operation 24 hours a day. Parks would be off limits after 5 p.m., … Read more…
It was last year, Friday, June 5th, 2021, when the NYPD came into Washington Square Park in riot gear using excessive force and extreme policing to “enforce” the 10 p.m. weekend “curfew” the De Blasio … Read more…
In June of 2013, the four founding members of what would then become Washington Square Park Conservancy came before Community Board 2’s Parks Committee for a “public hearing” in order to get “approval” for their … Read more…
The first President of the United States, George Washington, was born on February 22nd, 1732. The Arch at Washington Square Park is a memorial to Washington who served as President from 1789 to 1797. The … Read more…
In many ways, more recent Washington Square Park remains informed by the famous bohemian, free spirited “Arch Conspirators”‘ takeover of the Arch in 1917. Some may not be aware of what transpired then. Yet there … Read more…
Resumes in Person Despite ongoing Covid concerns, Washington Square Park’s Christmas tree lighting will take place, after one year’s absence in person, on Wednesday, December 8th at 6 p.m. Santa will be on hand and … Read more…
It’s That Time of Year Again 20,000 Bodies are Buried Underneath this Park This time of year seems to rile up and unearth the dead bodies beneath Washington Square Park. It is believed up to … Read more…
20 Years Ago Today Everything changed after 9/11, a very sad day in New York City, 20 Years Ago Today. When you could see the Twin Towers directly through the middle of the Washington Square … Read more…
Girl with Sketchpad Fountain Steps Washington Square Park, 1956. Photo: Nat Norman Learn more about this time period at the park here: 1950s & 60s Washington Square Captured in New Exhibit, Folk City, at Museum … Read more…
The New York City Parks Department prepared an Archaeological Assessment of Washington Square Park in 2005 prior to the park’s controversial redesign (2007-2014+). The affiliated map outlines where long-forgotten Minetta Creek flows (once flowed?) under … Read more…
A Pivotal Piece of the Park’s History 60 years ago this month, the Washington Square Park “Folk Riot”, a pivotal part of this Greenwich Village park’s history, occurred. That date, April 9, 1961, and what … Read more…