Washington Square Park Conservancy signs five‑year license with Parks Department, pledges recurring staff funding

Will Morrison, Washington Square Park administrator and executive director of the Washington Square Park Conservancy, told Manhattan Community Board 2 that the Parks Department and Conservancy have signed a five‑year license agreement that formalizes the longtime partnership and secures a recurring fundraising commitment for park staff and programming.

Morrison said the Conservancy has agreed to commit at least $1,100,000 each year for five years to fund city staff positions that work in the park. "The conservancy is committing, for 5 years every year to fund at least $1,100,000 in funding for staff positions at the park," Morrison said at the meeting. He emphasized that the positions are city employees with city benefits and pensions, and that the agreement does not transfer ownership of parkland to the Conservancy.

Why it matters: The license formalizes private‑public fundraising and gives the Conservancy new tools (adopt‑a‑bench, fundraising events and clearer sponsorship pathways) to direct money specifically to Washington Square Park rather than the citywide parks general fund. It…