Riot and vandalism: police imposed curfew on popular New York park

New York City Police are imposing a new curfew in Washington Square Park following complaints of riots and late night outings in public places in Manhattan. It is no longer possible to be in the park after 22:00. The edition told in more detail Gothamist.

Police officers confirmed the changes they said were made in coordination with the New York City Parks Department. The curfew, which comes two hours before the current closing time, will be enforced by special NYPD officers on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights on a "permanent basis."

Greenwich Village Park is becoming an increasingly popular place for night gatherings as the pandemic has forced bars to cut back on their working hours. At the same time, some local residents in the Tony area have expressed concern about the increase in music, garbage, vandalism and drug use. People complain about "the negative impact this has on the safety of the area, the value of property and the quality of life."

As complaints have risen in recent months, New York City police have occasionally tried to enforce the long-ignored midnight curfew in the park by sending cops in protective gear to clear the area.

Catherine Swan, who blogs about Washington Square Park, said she couldn't recall police ever closing the park permanently in the past.

On the subject: Seven Sculpture Parks Near New York City To Visit This Summer

“There are obvious ways to solve this without resorting to police in overalls and without a curfew,” Swan said.

In addition to the additional NYPD presence, Parks Authority officials will also increase the number of patrols in the park to address the issue of “large gatherings,” a city agency spokesman said.

The City Parks Department will also install fences at the northwest corner of Washington Square Park. Although the area has long been populated by drug traffickers, residents say the problem has escalated since the pandemic and is fueling a rise in crime. Last year, the number of robberies at the 6th site, which covers the park, increased by 72%, while the number of attacks increased by almost 30%.

“It is clear that parks are not for people who use drugs, they are not for people who commit any nefarious acts,” said New York Police Commissioner Dermot Shea. He added that city parks are for "people who sit and have fun, families and children."

The Washington Square Park Conservancy, a nonprofit organization, said it supports the closure of the park.