After almost one and a half years of hell, the central section of
Washington Square Park has just reopened, fully restored and looking
better than ever. Though there is still work to be done on the eastern
third of the park, as well as on the southwestern corner, the main work
has been completed; not in time, it is true, for this year’s graduation
ceremonies at New York University, but at least in time for the summer
season. That of course is when the locals, the tourists, the buskers
and the dealers come out of the woodwork and make themselves quite at
home in this most precious of urban parks. [more]