in and around the park, public space, NYC & more
Writer Henry James (1843-1916) used Washington Square as the name and setting for arguably his most well-known novel published in 1881. Washington Square also holds the claim of being one of his least favorite books … Read more…
Culture from other eras inform the park to this day, but is that spirit being increasingly sanitized? The New York Times T Magazine recently celebrated New York City “three extraordinary years” 1981-1983. In light of … Read more…
Why It Remains Important The Folk Riot at Washington Square Park – sometimes referred to as the Beatnik Riot – occurred on Sunday, April 9th, 1961 after the city’s Parks Department suppressed performance at the … Read more…
I was hoping we would have another snowy day to feature this wonderful photograph by André Kertész : Washington Square, Winter. Of the compelling image taken of Washington Square Park in 1954 – spot the … Read more…
Washington Square Park Blog turns 10 today! The first WSP Blog post: The magical park February 26, 2008 When I first got involved with what was going on at Washington Square Park, someone referred to … Read more…
Walking from the Eastern end of Washington Square Park towards the Arch in 2012, I noticed, for the first time, that there are Roman numerals at the top on the side of the monument. I … Read more…
What will this generation impart on this Greenwich Village public space? I believe that much about current Washington Square Park is informed by the Arch Conspirators’ takeover of the Arch in 1917 – and the … Read more…
A must watch! This holiday video set to Karen Carpenter’s “Sleigh Ride” highlights kids sledding and frolicking in the snow on the old Mounds at Washington Square Park in December 2008 before their remodeling. It … Read more…
The statue of Giuseppe Garibaldi in Washington Square Park was moved during the park’s controversial redesign (2007-2014+) from his long-standing location facing west looking towards the fountain to face south, where he is now. Garibaldi … Read more…
Washington Square Park Once a “Potters Field” – Skeletons, Bones, Burial Vaults, Tombstones Unearthed Repeatedly During Construction Over Last 10 Years Well, it is All Souls’ Day, isn’t it? This time of year seems to … Read more…
“When cities rely on private donors, we end up with sterile, controlled environments,” states the preface to a recent New York Times Op Ed, How Parks Lose Their Playfulness. The piece delves into the redesign … Read more…
Updated Vanishing New York, the book, released late last month, is a more thought-out, expanded version of the Vanishing New York blog, run by Jeremiah Moss since 2007. The blog has been popular from its … Read more…
No Nor’easter on that night! On January 23, 1917, 6 artists, including John Sloan, Marcel Duchamp, and Gertrude Drick, made their way to the top of the Washington Square Arch after sneaking through an unguarded … Read more…
New York Magazine recently featured “Vintage Photos of the Teens Who Ran Washington Square Park in the 1950s” from a new book by photographer Dave Heath who died earlier this year. Heath had a special … Read more…
This time of year seems to rile and unearth the dead bodies beneath Washington Square Park. It is believed up to 20,000 bodies lie beneath this Greenwich Village park, dating back to when the space … Read more…