Unfortunately, recent events in the park including deadly stabbings, overdoses, and violence against park administrators and WSA board members, we have to postpone the Washington Square Chess Simul until the NYPD, Parks and the District Attorney’s office provide more effective policing, prosecution and social services.

A first look interview with new conductor of the WSMF’s June 13th and 20th concerts, Ahmed Alom, as he retells his story growing up in Cuba, finding a love of music and becoming an award-winning conductor, filmmaker and musician.

In our June update we discuss increased police presence in the park as we approach the busy season in Washington Square Park, the need for increased support for social services and the upcoming election in which a redistricting is creating a city council election that we should all be paying attention to.

Governor Hochul’s new regulations on enforcing unlicensed sales of cannabis enable us to finally remove illicit cannabis vendors from our neighborhood and parks. Here’s what’s going on and how you can help.

Washington Square Park has always been the center of political activism and protest in New York City. From early protests around abolition, war protests, women’s suffrage, gay rights, Black Lives Matter, Occupy Wall Street and more, this article goes in depth with photos from our rich history of using our community voice to change the world.

In 2021, the Washington Square Association created a new community affairs arm (see our 2021 Policy Recommendations). Since then, we have been active in advocating with numerous government agencies and elected officials to address our area’s public safety, public health, and quality of life issues including organizing a tour with our City Council Members.

We find ourselves in a unique position as an independent organization to be able to provide information to you on how our community organizations are responding to the challenges we face.

On Saturday, October 22nd, the Washington Square Association hosted our second annual Washington Square Chess Exhibition. The event was held where some of the world’s most iconic chess tables exist, in Washington Square Park’s Chess Plaza, and featured famed chess Grandmaster John Fedorowicz leading a simultaneous exhibition against 26 players at once.