Community Values
Our Guiding Principles
Be inclusive – focus on accessibility for all
Washington Square Park is, and must remain, open to everyone, regardless of age, ability, ethnicity, identity, politics, or income. Protecting inclusive use of the park is central to the Washington Square Association’s mission, from protest and free speech to everyday moments of reverie and respite, and we believe these uses can co‑exist.
Be holistic – complex problems require comprehensive solutions
The park’s challenges are interconnected and demand a coordinated response that draws on every available resource. That includes making sure City departments have the staffing and support they need to deliver services to our area.
Be innovative – look for new solutions to old problems
In addition to using established channels, we look for thoughtful, creative approaches that reflect how the park and neighborhood are changing. We build on more than a century of experience while staying open to new ideas that can make Washington Square work better for everyone.
Our Positions
Public Safety And Enforcement
Everyone who uses Washington Square Park has a fundamental right to personal safety, and public safety is the bedrock of community spaces. The Washington Square Association believes that the City and the community share responsibility for ensuring that public spaces are safe spaces.
We support consistent enforcement of existing park rules every day, so that the laws and regulations designed to protect the park, its visitors, and the surrounding neighborhood can do their job. At the same time, individual policies should be reviewed regularly to make sure they remain effective and appropriate.
Close the Park at the scheduled time of midnight.
Employ alternative methods, separate from using force, to encourage the observance of rules (ex. floodlights, citations).
Soft policing tactics should be used to reduce the risk that interactions escalate, including clear, proactive communication with park users about how and why rules are enforced, especially before any changes take effect. People need to know what the rules are so they have a fair chance to follow them.
Maintain regular patrols of uniformed officers.
Visibility can go a long way towards the public’s observance of current rules.
Continue enforcement focus on repeat offenders.
Repeat offenders are responsible for a significant percentage of criminal activity in the Park.
Empower PEP officers to enforce rules.
The Parks Enforcement Patrol (PEP) plays a key role in encouraging Park visitors to observe the rules so the police can focus on serious crime.
Prevent wheeled vehicles, like motorcycles, ATVs, skateboards, and bicycles, from using the Park.
Wheeled vehicles endanger the safety of pedestrians, and older adults and people with mobility challenges should feel safe and secure here too.
Support efforts to prevent further vandalism to the Park.
The Washington Square Association fully supports safeguarding measures to prevent damage to Park’s structures and monuments from graffiti, skateboarding, and other sources.
Stop the use of amplified sound without a permit.
Respecting reasonable limits on noise and activity helps protect everyone’s quality of life
Social Services
Individuals with long-term issues, namely substance abuse, incapacitating mental health challenges, and/or chronic homelessness face enormous obstacles, and we support increased allocation of social services to aid their recovery. Prevention is important too, and we back programs such as youth peer mediation, conflict resolution, and housing navigation outreach for unhoused park users as effective ways to reduce conflict and stabilize lives before crises escalate.
Increase/maintain the presence of social service providers, including those offering preventative services, and increase the frequency of their visits.
Increase support for area organizations doing social services work.