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Immortalized in such disparate works as Washington Square, Henry James’ novel on 19th-century New York high society, and the nihilistic '90s teen flick Kids, Washington Square Park has long been a crossroads of unusual paths. Before it became a park in 1828, the 9.75-acre area was used as a cemetery, an execution site and a parade ground. Today, a new procession passes through the area, including artists, writers, musicians and other assorted Greenwich Village locals. Surrounded by New York University, the Park serves as a favorite meeting spot for college students who make up the majority of the bench sitters and lawn loungers. Of course, a few marijuana peddlers hocking their wares and some of the most well fed and least timid squirrels also add to the flavor. But they’re all in the shadow of the Park’s most famous landmark, the Washington Arch, designed by architect Stanford White and erected in 1885 to commemorate the centennial of George Washington’s inauguration. In warmer weather, park-goers recline near the central fountain, which serves alternately as a wading pool, a stage for street performers, or simply a spot to take in the sun. — Andrew Wang

Modeled after the larger Arc de Triomphe in Paris, the Washington Arch is located near the intersection of Fifth Ave. and Washington Square Park North. After withstanding more than a century of seasonal changes and air pollution—Fifth Ave. traffic passed through it until 1958—the arch underwent a nearly $3 million renovation from August 2002 to January 2004. Now visitors can clearly make out the features on the two statues of George Washington—“Washington as Commander-in-Chief” and “Washington as President”—that face uptown on the Fifth Avenue side of the arch.

Chess
In the southwest corner of the park, chess games go down just like the ones that were prominently featured in the film, Searching for Bobby Fischer. Most players are regulars out there every day testing their mettle against their opponents and the clock in fast-paced battles that are often decided in a matter of minutes. There are always a few hustlers, however, looking for the unsuspecting tourist to swindle.

Small Dog Run
The Robin Kovary Run for Small Dogs near the center of the park features rough-and-tumble steel-cage matches between small-breed dogs in a space about the same size as a generous Manhattan studio apartment. Watch as hyperactive pugs, French bulldogs and Scottish terriers scamper about and tussle while overprotective owners snipe at each other.

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