Tompkins Square Park also sees rise
in homelessness, but residents unfazed
At the East 7th Street entrance of Tompkins Square Park, a small group have created a makeshift encampment.
BY DEAN MOSES
Like Washington Square Park,
Tompkins Square Park is one of
Lower Manhattan’s most popular
recreation spots. Though not as trendy
as Washington Square Park in terms
of college students using it as a meeting
point — which further showcases the class
divide — the East Village greenspace sees
fl ocks of teens and families relaxing on its
pastures almost every day.
However, the two parks do have one
thing in common — a number of inebriated
homeless individuals have taken up
residence there.
But as many residents told this paper
when investigating the state of Washington
Square Park, many do not feel intimidated
when visiting the area, citing the sight of
homeless and drug dependent individuals
are present all over the city.
A group of teens passed through the
winding paths of Tompkins Square Park’s
East 9th Street entrance, laughing and going
about their day without a care in the world.
They say they visit this area almost every
day and do not feel threatened by drifters,
instead only ever experiencing an issue with
what they call drunken “frat guys” who attempt
to corner them and harass them.
“I don’t really see a lot, it’s just like the
average New York crowd here,” Francesca
Phelps said, sharing that she has heard past
stories on how Tompkins Square Park was
once a dangerous space; however now it’s a
PHOTOS BY DEAN MOSES
much sought-after location for local bands
to play over the summer months.
Phelps along with her friends agreed that
Tompkins Square Park has more of a laid
back, “chill” vibe.Looking out at a group of
A man shaves as he sits beside a large collection of recyclables.
parents with their infant children, Phelps
says that Tompkins Square Park makes her
feel perfectly safe.
“This is a public park, it’s as much theirs
as it ours,” Avery Milner said, chiming in.
Maria Lavendera and her 16-month-old
son, Nico, love visiting the playgrounds
within the public space. They even partake
in outdoor classes with other parents
to help their infant children and toddlers
learn and interact.
“I really like it here. I come over here
from the Bronx,” Lavendera said. “I can
see there are some people who are facing
diffi cult situations here, but I don’t feel
threatened or afraid, or anything like that.
I have this whole perspective; life is full of
different situations, so you don’t have to let
something take away from what you enjoy.”
Like a mirror image of Washington
Square Park, there are some individuals
who are allegedly engaging in drug use,
confi ning themselves to the East 7th
Street and Avenue A sector of the park,
where many locals feel they don’t bother
parkgoers.
Here, blankets are strewn over public
tables and chairs while objects such as
portable heaters and picnic umbrellas are
used to shield against nature’s wrath. With
some demonizing the unhoused residents,
amNewYork Metro gave the group an opportunity
to speak on behalf of themselves.
Albert Cruz spoke candidly regarding
his drug use and diffi cult living situation.
The 68-year-old shared that his addiction
has caused him to lose an excessive amount
of weight, and while this is a battle he is
still fi ghting, at Tompkins Square Park he is
just trying to fi nd a place to survive.
“What’s happening with me, I’m still
sniffi ng, I’m just trying to come more off
it than go into it,” Cruz said, “It’s sad, I lost
so much weight.”
As some point the fi nger of blame at
those suffering from drug addiction and
homelessness as a plight on parks, New
Yorkers themselves are citing the lack of
access to resources to care for them as the
real plague.
Some find shelter within the public space.
6 June 10, 2021 Schneps Media