Located at the head of 5th Avenue in Greenwich Village, Washington Square Park is enjoying a renaissance of sorts. Under the watchful eye of Mayor Rudy, the park has successfully rebounded from the infestation of drug dealers and other scary types the palgued it throughout the 70s and 80s. The park is now a delightful respite, peopled by artsy NYU students, neighborhood folks, vendors, and the occasional street performers (especially in summer). Lined with benches and anchored by a large, central fountain, Washington Square has become a really nice place to take a breather.
The park was first built in the 1820's on the site of a former potter's field and then public gallows. It went through
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The park was first built in the 1820's on the site of a former potter's field and then public gallows. It went through several incarnations before arriving at its current design. The lovely central fountain and famous triumphal arch are the focal points of the park. Once home to the weathiest New Yorkers, the park is lined with brownstones on two sides and New York University buildings on the other two sides. The old mansions are gone, but you can just imagine what the place must have been like at the turn of the century. Washington Square is where the Olivia deHaviland character in the film "The Heiress" lived. There's a lot of history here, and I believe there will continue to be as the Village changes and re-develops over time.
No doubt, it was a scary place at one time, particularly in the 1980s when it was a well-known spot for drug dealers. That has all changed now. While I wouldn't spend too much time in any New York City park after dark, Washington Square is very safe during daylight hours, and also much, much cleaner than it's ever been. You have to credit Mayor Rudy Giuliani for that - no matter how you feel about him, everyone admits that the city is much cleaner and safer since he took office.
We like to walk over to the park early on summer evenings - some of the street performers are pretty amazing. Last summer there was a troop of teen-aged dare-devil acrobats that drew a huge crowd and really knew how to work the crowd. People loved them and it was really cool to see people from all walks of life laughing together along with the performers. And the park is a true crossroads for Greenwich Village - you never know who you'll run into. I once ran into an acquaintance from high school who had moved to the West Coast and was in town on business - small world.
Washington Square is loaded with history and perfectly situated for a little break from shopping in the Village. It's worth a stop.
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