Ten Highlights Of Washington Sq. Park
 Washington Square Park is a historic and vibrant green space in the heart of Greenwich Village. While there are many must-see places in NYC, I've come up with TEN compelling reasons why you won't want to overlook this park.
History
1. Â Long before it became a park, the site was known to the Lenape tribe as a marshy area with abundant waterfowl and a trout stream called Minetta (now buried). The land held significance for the indigenous people who inhabited the region.
After the Revolutionary War, the city of New York acquired part of this land for a potter’s field. This public burial ground served as the resting place for the poor, indigent, and victims of yellow fever. Their bodies were laid to rest in mass graves, marking a poignant chapter in the park’s history.  Â
Here & Now
2. The park covers 9.75 acres and is managed by the New York City Department of Parks and recreation.  Elegant houses surround three sides of the park, and to the east is New York University’s sprawling campus. It's also a hub for street entertainers, chess players, and city residents seeking fun and relaxation. After Central Park, it's one of the best-known parks in New York City.
5th Ave
3. The park, along with the famous arch at its northern entrance, marks the end of one of the most famous streets in New York: Fifth Ave. Often compared to Paris Champs-Elysee, Fifth Avenue is home to iconic buildings such as the Empire State Building, the Flatiron building, St Patrick's Cathedral, and Rockefeller Plaza.
The Arch
4. The idea to construct an arch at this location emerged during the centennial celebration of an important moment in U.S. history, George Washington’s 1789 inauguration as the first President of the United States. The original arch, made of wood and plaster, was erected in 1889. In 1891, the Washington Square Arch was designed by famed architect Stanford White, (who was later shot and killed at the rooftop theatre of Madison Square Garden by Harry Kendall Thaw.)
Inspired by the triumphal arches and Paris’s Arc de Triomphe. Its elegant white marble structure stands over 70 feet high and features statuary depicting George Washington, wreaths of laurel, and majestic eagles.
Street Performers
5. Washington Sq. Park is long known for its instrumental music and political demonstrations. The park hosts a wide variety of street performers, from musicians and dancers to magicians and living statues, where visitors mingle with artists, activists, poets and buskers. Through out the history of the park, despite NYC's love of culture and performance, art vendors and buskers in Washington Square have been tolerated, targeted, and ticketed because of complaints from wealthy neighbors.
Chess Hustlers
💰Sometimes $5 goes to the winner. Sometimes the people with the boards will play $5 against the clock, and other times they’ll charge for a "lesson”, or charge $20 to play regardless of who wins.
Hangman's Elm
7. "The Hanging Tree,” located at the northwest corner of Washington Square Park is an English Elm that stands at an impressive 135 feet (41 meters) tall when measured around the year 2000. This ancient tree has witnessed centuries of New York’s evolution. According to legend, traitors were hanged from its branches during the American Revolution. Despite the lack of historical evidence for hangings, the name Hangman’s Elm persists, adding an air of mystery to this ancient tree. Its gnarled branches and weathered bark evoke centuries of stories, both real and imagined.
Street Food
8. The Dosa Man’s pushcart is listed in guidebooks in 42 countries. He won the Vendy Award (Oscars of Street Food) in 2007 and serves all vegan Sri Lankan meals. It’s a long line but worth the wait and conveniently located in the southern tip of the park.
Mon- Sat 11a-3p Small bites, healthy options, lunch and solo dining.
$-$$
Alexander Lyman Holley Monument
9. Holley was a distinguished engineer, still he is essentially unknown to the general public. Nearly no one in the park knows who Alexander Lyman Holley was. Overlooked and inconspicuously located west of the central fountain the memorial was sculpted by John Quincy Adams Ward and honors Alexander Lyman Holley (1832-1882), the engineer considered to be the founder of the American steel industry.
The Fountain
10. The Washington Square Fountain has graced the park since its dedication on January 31, 1852. It stands at the foot of Fifth Avenue, serving as a focal point and gathering spot for locals and tourists alike. In 2000 the parks department moved the entire fountain 23 feet to improve the parks symmetry and align the fountain with the arch.
The sunken steps invites visitors to sit on the fountains edges and enjoy the soothing sound of water. In warmer months, it becomes a favorite spot for waders and splashers. The surrounding circular plaza frequently doubles as an ad hoc performance space. Adding to the exciting atmosphere of the park.Â
The Best Time To Visit
The Halloween Parade is a big deal in NYC. It takes place in Greenwich Village on October 31st and many of the festivities spill over into the park. There's kid friendly activities sponsored by NYU, marching bands that pass through Washington Sq., and lots of folks trick-or-treating in the neighborhood before the parade starts. You can participate by marching in the parade, (costumes are mandatory) or hang out in the park and enjoy the litany of DIY costumes, or find a spot en route and watch the parade go by -- it's a once in a life time extravaganza.
 Washington Sq. Park is, for the most part, like the Wild West.
Whether you have 20 minutes or an idle 2 hours, I suggest hanging out on one of the many benches. Just let the park happen around you. It's a real scene and everybody has a story. The park is small so you can easily watch everything from your bench or wander from the east side to the west side. If you have time, play a game of chess, catch a skateboarder's trick, eat lunch, relish a buskers act, and take in the historical architecture and enjoy the beautiful pathways and gardens. The park’s only public bathroom is rather clean and well kept. And if you're a photographer stay put, find your spot, and seize the many opportunities to capture that perfect NYC shot while immersing yourself in this cherished urban oasis.Â
 Nearby Places
Getting Here
Take the A/C/E, B/D/F subway trains to West 4th/Washington Square, the N/R to 8th Street or the Q to Union Square, or the 4/5/6 to Union Square or the 6 to Astor Place. Citibike stations are located at the Northwest corner of the park, along the eastern edge of the park, and on the south side on Thompson Street at West 3rd.
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