New pitch to install permanent gates at iconic Washington Square Park reignites debate among NYers’
A plan to install permanent gates at the iconic Washington Square Park is fueling a battle between safety and preserving the “liberal” spirit of the Big Apple’s largest park.
The proposal to fence the gates comes after security concerns first surfaced following the COVID-19 pandemic – with the park becoming home to late-night debauchery and open drug use with dozens of drug addicts arrested.
Some frustrated locals are now calling for permanent gates to enforce a midnight curfew in the park, noting that the current barriers the NYPD uses to block entry at night are easily pushed aside.
“This park is locked, it’s not locked properly,” said Greenwich Village resident George Vallonakis, who redesigned the park in the early 2000s.
“It’s very difficult for anyone from the parks department or the NYPD to properly lock those gates.”
The architect noted a similar debate two decades ago during the redesign process.
Aside from safety, Vallonakis said the entrance to the historic park should resemble the rest of the popular green space.
He said: “Every place that goes into the park.
“When you look at the ugly chains, it’s not a good image of what NYC should be, including the police barricades.”
If given the green light, it wouldn’t be the first time Washington Square Park has had a fence — for decades, since the 1820s, the park has been locked with permanent gates.
“Now it’s time to replace the unsightly police barriers with proper gates that truly represent the history of that park,” added Vallonakis, “which we’ve had for 50-plus years, and it was locked.”
But not all New Yorkers are ready for the park, a longtime symbol of protest, activism and public expression, to be officially fenced off.
“I think it’s a bad idea because it’s going to shut everything down,” said longtime Greenwich Village singer Marilyn Jane.
“I love the vibe and the hustle and bustle. I used to live in Venice Beach, so maybe I’m a biased observer. But I really like the park the way it is.”
Photographer Kat Lazaro, 53, from Europe, said that people do not “close” parks at night.
“This is where young couples come to hang out, little kids come to hang out.” he said. “People have a right to assemble here.”
“That would be too bad,” said 28-year-old barista Chip.
Everyone loves a park. “The park should welcome people, not stop them.”
“I don’t feel unsafe here: I’ve come here at night many times, I walk in the park at night many times,” said college professor John Kruth, 70.
“I think there’s all this tendency to legitimize right now, that’s out of control.”
Student Zachary Foster, 19, finds the park “really peaceful” and said the permanent gates “may destroy people’s love for the park in a way, because it’s so open and free that you can do anything.”
“I feel like it can be really destructive, and it creates a lack of community,” he added.
NYC Parks told The Post that there is no official proposal to install the gates, but “if the decision is approved by the full community board, NYC Parks will work with the Washington Square Park Conservancy to do so.”
The community board’s Parks & Waterfront Committee agreed Wednesday to draft a resolution that will ask the parks department to provide “traditional and non-traditional closure recommendations,” the park’s Conservancy, which supported drafting the resolution, told The Post.
