Washington Square Park
Washington Square Park is popular with locals and tourists alike

Where Harry met Sally, Washington Square Park is one of New York's most loved parks and has been a community meeting place and community center since it opened in 1826.
With an eclectic past as a cemetery, public gallows and military parade ground, Washington Square Park is well-known for its eccentricity and is emblematic of the Beat generation and hippie movement in bohemian Greenwich Village. Now, avant-garde street performers are a more common sight than the shifty types that plagued the park in the 1980s and Washington Square Park is once again one of the city's most popular spots for locals and tourists.
One of the most prominent features of Washington Square Park, Washington's Arch, was built in 1889, modelled after the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, to commemorate the centenary of President Washington's inauguration. Originally built in wood and rebuilt in marble in 1891, cars were allowed to drive through Washington's Arch until 1971 when the park was redesigned and closed to vehicular traffic.
Washington Square Park's previously unnamed fountain was recently refurbished and relocated to the center of the park and controversially renamed the "Tisch Fountain", after a wealthy family of NYU benefactors. While officially access to the fountain is denied and a fence has been erected as a deterrent, it hasn't stopped visitors from using the fountain for its original purpose as a wading pool.
Children's play areas, dog runs, shady greens and walking tracks draw thousands of people to park daily. Chess tables in the southwest, where Stanley Kubrick played in his youth and featured in Searching for Bobby Fischer, always attract a crowd. Nearby cafes on Bleeker Street and MacDougal Street are lovely options to relax after a stroll in the park.
Facts For Your Visit
Official Website: Washington Square Park
Fee: noCategory: Parks
Address:
1 Washington Sq E
New York, NY 10011
Reviews
Robert S. Dec-13-2022
A marsh. A cemetery. A parade ground. A gathering spot for avant-garde artists. A battleground for chess enthusiasts. A playground for canines and children.... Read More
Brian F. Sep-22-2022
Washington Square Park is a nice place to do some people-watching as many people from different walks of life gather here. There is a fountain in the middle... Read More
Derek S. Jul-30-2022
Came by the other day and it was a good spot for people watching in an otherwise hectic Manhattan! There were all walks of life doing their drugs?!?,... Read More
Accommodations near Washington Square Park:
Directions
Subway Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
---|---|---|
A, B, C, D, E, F or M | West 4th Street | 3 minutes |
N or R | 8th Street / New York University | 5 minutes |
How to get to Washington Square Park by Subway
Take the A, B, C, D, E, F or M train to West 4th Street, head northeast on 6th Avenue (Avenue of the Americas), turn left on Washington Place or take the N or R train to 8th Street / New York University, head southwest on Broadway, turn right onto Washington Place.
Map & Instant Route Finder
Click&Go Map and Route Finder with public transit, walking, driving or cycling directions. Get up-to-the-minute transit times for your route.
Photo Gallery
-
Washington Square Fountain at night cc licensed photo by eschipul Photo Credit: Yelp Photo Credit: Yelp Photo Credit: Yelp -
Photo Credit: edenpictures - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: thirdblade - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: mtchlra - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: edenpictures - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Rob Young - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: John St John Photography - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Lars Plougmann - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: David Jones - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: edenpictures - cc license via Flickr