Washington Square Park

A park that began as a potter’s field (and, conveniently, a public-execution ground), this is the town square of the Village, host to book-toting NYU students, fire-eating street performers, dog-run canines and their owners and speed-chess champs alike. Mint-condition townhouses and large modern structures, all belonging to NYU, surround the space on all sides. But its biggest claim to fame is that it’s home to the iconic Stanford White Arch, colloquially known as the Washington Square Arch, which dominates the park with its 72ft of beaming white Dover marble. Originally designed in wood to celebrate the centennial of George Washington’s inauguration in 1889, the arch proved so popular that it was replaced with stone six years later and adorned with statues of the general in war and peace (the latter work is by A Stirling Calder, father of artist Alexander Calder). In 1916 artist Marcel Duchamp famously climbed to the top of the arch by its internal stairway and declared the park the ‘Free and Independent Republic of Washington Square.’

This little republic has just completed a controversial, $16-million renovation. And while plenty of change-phobic locals were wary about the plans, most reviews so far have been glowing – which is no wonder, since a new fountain, relocated dog run and lush lawn have added a clean, fresh feel to what had become a ramshackle (though charmingly so) spit of green.