Washington Square Park

Washington Square Park is a public municipal park in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village, centred on the Washington Arch and a large central fountain. It serves as a focal point for neighbourhood life, informal performance, chess players and university students.

The park’s paths, lawns and plazas are heavily used for people-watching, events and gatherings; the arch and fountain act as primary meeting points and photographic subjects. The space is compact-about 9.75 acres-so it is typically lively throughout the day and evening.

The park evolved from a 19th-century parade and potter’s field into a planned public square with monuments and formal landscaping; the arch and fountain have become symbolic features of Greenwich Village.

Washington Square Park is located in Lower Manhattan, bounded by Washington Square North/South and surrounded by residential streets and New York University buildings.

• Size: The park occupies a roughly 9.75-acre triangular site in Greenwich Village, making it a compact but busy urban green space.
• Atmosphere: Public chess tables, dog-walking areas and frequent street performances are longstanding features of daily life in the park.

What to See #

• Washington Arch: Washington Arch forms the park's northern focal point and frames views along Fifth Avenue and the surrounding square.
• Fountain plaza: The central fountain plaza is a popular meeting and seating area used year-round for gatherings and performances.