NYC sets weekend curfew for Washington Square Park amid complaints

NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — City officials have instituted an earlier closing time on weekends at Washington Square Park for the foreseeable future, following complaints of loud, late-night gatherings.

The NYPD said parkgoers will now have to leave the popular Greenwich Village park two hours earlier, at 10 p.m. instead of midnight on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.

The NYPD said the change was made over safety concerns and recent behavior, including people jumping on cars and throwing objects.

"We'll have an increased presence in the park, the parks are clearly not for people to use drugs, they're not for people to do any other nefarious activities," NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea told NY1. "That's exactly what I want to see there, people sitting and enjoying themselves, but for families and kids."

Asked about the curfew and police response at his daily briefing Tuesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio called the park "one of the jewels of this city," but noted that the green space is in a "residential neighborhood."

"If you get late at night and there's a whole lot of activity, that's something we do need to create some balance on. We want to do that with the lightest touch possible," he said. "So, continue to refine the approach. Yeah, it's New York City, and yeah, we want people to enjoy the summer of New York City, no question, but there still has to be some balance in the equation."

"We have to respect neighborhood residents and figure out the right way to strike that balance," he added. "So, we'll be working on that in the days ahead to make sure that approach makes sense as we go into the summer."

The park, where the centerpiece is a giant arch, is surrounded by New York University buildings.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.