08/23/04

One of the most community-oriented parks in the city.

by Contributor

Overview
A market square in the 19th century, Tompkins Square Park came into being when Peter Stuyvesant's ancestors bequeathed the area to the city with the understanding that it would always be "public property." (The name is in tribute to New York governor Daniel Tompkins, who freed the slaves in the state during the late 1820s.)

Features
This grand East Village park sports one of the city's best dog runs and is generally in splendid condition--thanks to a renovation which erased all traces of the infamous clashes that occurred here between squatters and police during the late 1980s. The park is frequently the site of impromptu performances by street artists, as well as outdoor concerts--Wigstock got its start here--and art shows, reflecting the neighborhood's colorful multicultural mix. Late-night revelers: Be sure to pay your respects at the Temperance Fountain.