New pitch to install permanent gates at iconic Washington Square Park reignites debate among NYers: Its not a good image of NYC

A plan to install permanent gates at the iconic Washington Square Park is igniting a tug-of-war between safety and preserving the Big Apple park’s historically “free” spirit.The proposal to fence off the entrances comes after safety concerns first arose following the COVID-19 pandemic — when the park became a home to late-night debauchery and open-air drug use tied to dozens of overdoses.Some frustrated locals are now pushing for permanent gates to enforce the park’s midnight curfew, noting the current NYPD barricades used to block late-night access are easily pushed aside.“This park is locked, it’s just not properly locked,” said Greenwich Village resident George Vallonakis, who redesigned the park in the early 2000s.“It’s very hard for anyone from the parks department or NYPD to properly lock those entrances.”The landscape architect noted the same debate took place two decades ago during the redesign process.Beyond safety, Vallonakis argued the historic park’s entrances should aesthetically match the rest of the famous green space.“Every entrance is a park experience,” he said.“When you look at the ugly chains, it’s not a good image of what NYC should be, including police barricades.”If given the greenlight, it wouldn’t be the first time Washington Square Park had fencing — for decades, beginning in the 1820s, the park was locked with permanent gates.“Now it’s time to replace the unattractive police barricades with appropriate gates that really represent the history of that park,” Vallonakis added, “which it did have for 50-plus years, and it was locked.”But not all New Yorkers are ready for the park, a longtime symbol of protest, performance and public expression, to be officially fenced-off.“I think it’s a horrible idea because it’s just gonna make everything feel closed off,” said longtime Greenwich Village artist Marilyn Jane.

“I like the vibe and chaos.I used to live in Venice Beach, maybe I’m a bi...