Washington Square Park ⛲️

Don’t mind us, we’re just making sure the trees surrounding #WashingtonSquarePark are looking their best 💧😌 Volunteer with us as a Washington Square Waterer, and help these thirsty trees thrive! Orientations open now — link in bio. 📝

We’re saying cheers with our volunteers! You’re invited to our #WashingtonSquarePark Volunteer Happy Hour at @thehalfpintnyc for a casual evening of community and conversation. Join us on Monday, May 18 from 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm. 🍻 You should stop by if you’re a: 💚 Longtime volunteer 👏 Joined us for a past community cleanup 💡 Are brand new and curious about getting involved! And thanks to our partners at The Half Pint and the Stout Gives Back Program, 10% of the evening’s proceeds will go directly back to the park. RSVPs strongly encouraged! Link in bio.

Ever wanted to learn about painting with watercolors? Now’s your chance: join us for Park Open Studio in #WashingtonSquarePark. 🎨 Throughout May, artist Francis Hsueh (@francis.h.sketches ) will lead a watercolor workshop every Saturday from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm. It’s free and open to all ages! But the creativity doesn’t stop there! All throughout the summer and fall, an array of artists will transform Scrabble Plaza into an open-air studio. Running May through October, join us every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm in Scrabble Plaza (NW Corner). ~~~ 🖼️ About the Workshop: What Participants Will Learn: 1️⃣ 3 fundamental brushstroke techniques for successful watercolor paintings 2️⃣ Tips and tricks for managing a painting from beginning to end. 3️⃣ How to approach a scene when painting outdoors Each weekly session will be organized around a subject matter “theme” for the day, such as ‘painting figures in public’, ‘painting busy streets’, or ‘painting buildings and structures’. All levels are welcome! 🖌️ About the Artist: Francis loves to create evocative paintings of his environment. His paintings, primarily done with watercolor, capture well-known sites as well as overlooked corners. Although he started painting later in life, Francis now has had two paintings displayed in the NYC subway, including his latest one at the 181st Street Station in uptown Manhattan. He also illustrated a children’s book about Miles Davis and is currently working on another illustration project. Francis teaches a weekly watercolor class in Washington Heights. Originally from the midwest, Francis Hsueh has lived in New York City for almost 29 years. He lives in Washington Heights with his wife, two sons and a cat. art-francis.com

Shoutout to the @KPMG team for their incredible volunteer work in #WashingtonSquarePark this morning! 💙 Looking to plan a corporate volunteer event in Washington Square Park? Invite your colleagues to roll up their sleeves, get outside, and make a real impact in the heart of NYC. Link in bio to learn more. #KPMGCommunityImpactDay

Washington Square Park’s trees need your help! As New York’s climate shifts and rainfall becomes less predictable, keeping our young trees hydrated through the summer is more important than ever. Volunteer as a Washington Square Waterer and make a real difference, no experience necessary. 🚰 Link in bio to sign up for an orientation! #volunteer #trees #nyc #washingtonsquarepark

Looking for something free and fun to do in New York City this week? Check out all of our free programs in #WashingtonSquarePark! Here’s what’s happening in the park: 
💢 Pétanque @labouleny Monday, May 11 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
 Wednesday, May 13 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm 📍 Pétanque Courts 🌱 Wednesday Weeders Orientation Monday, May 11 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm Sign up required (link in bio!) 
🪩 Bodyroll @_bodyroll_ @vivasoudan Tuesday, May 12 9:30 am - 10:30 am 📍 Garibaldi Plaza 
🫟 Art in the Park Wednesday, May 13 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm 📍 Playground 
💃 Salsa Social @mi_salsadura_baile_events Wednesday, May 13 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm 📍 Garibaldi Plaza 🚰 Washington Square Waterers Orientation Thursday, May 14 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm Sign up required – registration opens tomorrow! 
🖼️ Park Open Studio: Dioramas with Traci Johnson @kailuaa Thursday, May 14 & Friday, May 15 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm 📍 Scrabble Plaza 
🤸 Double Dutch @doubledutchgarden @mrzcoachkizzy Thursday, May 14 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm 📍 Garibaldi Plaza 
🧘 Yoga @mariah.gibson.yoga Friday, May 15 8:30 am - 9:30 am 📍 Garibaldi Plaza 
🎨 Park Open Studio: Watercolors with Francis Hsueh @francis.h.sketches Saturday, May 16 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm 📍 Scrabble Plaza

Love gardening? Live in NYC? Become a Wednesday Weeder volunteer in #WashingtonSquarePark! Meet Wednesday Weeder Rob Pendleton, who makes volunteering a rewarding part of his routine each week. Interested in gardening with us and want to learn more? Link in bio — join us for an upcoming orientation! 🌱

You may have been wondering: when will the Washington Square Fountain be turned on? ⛲ Here’s what’s happening: @NYCParks is making extensive plumbing repairs to the fountain, ensuring it can run smoothly throughout the warmer months. The Conservancy, at the request of NYC Parks, fundraised and purchased the equipment to make these critically needed repairs possible. NYC Parks will not be completing the repair work until June because a major facet includes replacing the fountain’s plumbing strainers, which are large, specialized parts that are being custom made in Italy and expected to arrive in late May. Looking for water elsewhere in the park? Not to worry! Washington Square Park’s other water features are on, including water fountains, both dog runs, the large playground water feature (only on hot days!) and ground hydrants – essential for keeping the park’s horticulture thriving. We’ll keep you updated as repairs progress, and we look forward to the fountain flowing better than ever soon! 💙

May is a busy time for celebrations in the park — and there’s no better way to honor your loved one than giving a gift that grows! Whether you’re cheering on a graduating senior this spring or sending love on Mother’s Day this weekend, dedicating a plant in Washington Square Park is an easy and meaningful gift that celebrates your loved one and gives back to the park. 🎓💗 🌼 If you’d like your recipient to receive their certificate by Mother’s Day, please make your dedication by 5/7. Link in bio to learn more.

We went to Traci’s studio and now, we’re bringing the studio to *you* at Park Open Studio in #WashingtonSquarePark. 🪄 Throughout May, artist Traci Johnson (@kailuaa @tracijohnsonart ) will lead a workshop every Thursday and Friday from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm: create your own safe space diorama. It’s free and open to all ages! But the art making doesn’t stop there! All throughout the summer and fall, an array of artists will transform Scrabble Plaza into an open-air studio. Running May through October, join us every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm in Scrabble Plaza (NW Corner). ~~~ 🖼️ About the Workshop: This interactive workshop guides participants through creating miniature dioramas that represent their personal concept of a safe space. The session begins with community-building activities and explores what elements make spaces feel secure and welcoming. Participants brainstorm their vision, then spend hands-on time constructing their dioramas using provided materials. The workshop emphasizes individual creativity and self-expression while teaching basic construction techniques. Sessions conclude with optional sharing time and group reflection on the creative process and insights gained. Designed to be flexible and adaptable to participant interests, this workshop combines art therapy principles with practical crafting skills to promote emotional well-being and self-discovery through creative expression. 🎨 About the Artist: Born in NYC in 1998, Traci Johnson is an emerging textile artist whose tufted and hooked tapestries explore spirituality, sexuality, and identity. A graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology (BFA), Johnson transforms the language of sanctuary shaped by their religious upbringing into spaces of queer liberation and embodied healing. Their practice emphasizes construction, deconstruction, and reconstruction as pathways to selfhood. Johnson’s symbolic, narrative-rich works invite viewers into their own processes of clarity, discovery, and rebirth. www.tracijohnson.art

We’re hiring! Join the Washington Square Park Conservancy team as our Digital Communications Intern (a paid part-time, seasonal position). 🤳 In this role, you’ll support content creation for the Conservancy’s online presence to promote the park’s events, programs, and initiatives. Interested in applying or know someone who might be? Send your resume, cover letter, and two examples of previous digital communications work to [email protected] with “Digital Communications Intern” in the subject line. 🔗 link in bio to learn more!

Free programs are BACK in #WashingtonSquarePark! Here’s what’s happening in the park this week: 🐦 Spring Migration Tour @nycbirdalliance Monday, May 4 8:00 am - 9:30 am 📍 Holley Plaza 
💢 Pétanque @labouleny Monday, May 4 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Wednesday, May 6 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm 📍 Pétanque Courts 
🪩 Bodyroll *NEW* @_bodyroll_ @vivasoudan Tuesday, May 5 9:30 am - 10:30 am 📍 Garibaldi Plaza 
✍️ Street Lab @streetlab Tuesday, May 5 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm 📍 Holley Plaza 
🫟 Art in the Park *CANCELLED DUE TO RAIN* Wednesday, May 6 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm 📍 Playground 
💃 Salsa Social @mi_salsadura_baile_events *CANCELLED DUE TO RAIN* Wednesday, May 6 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm 📍 Garibaldi Plaza 
🖼️ Park Open Studio: Dioramas with Traci Johnson @kailuaa Thursday, May 7 & Friday, May 8 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm 📍 Scrabble Plaza 
🤸 Double Dutch @doubledutchgarden @mrzcoachkizzy Thursday, May 7 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm 📍 Garibaldi Plaza 
🧘 Yoga @mariah.gibson.yoga Friday, May 8 8:30 am - 9:30 am 📍 Garibaldi Plaza 
🎨 Park Open Studio: Watercolors with Francis Hsueh @francis.h.sketches *CANCELLED DUE TO RAIN* Saturday, May 9 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm 📍 Scrabble Plaza