I am a Parks caretaker, and I’ve worked in Washington Square Park for 12 years. I do everything that needs to be done to keep the park in good shape for all who visit. Lately, I’ve been doing a lot of power-washing on the park’s pathways and graffiti removal from our historic monuments, and I love it.

It is easy for a lot of the work at Washington Square Park to go unnoticed, but this park doesn’t stay as clean as it is by itself. I am one of 3 full-time and 5 seasonal maintenance staff who pick up trash, empty garbage cans, clean the public bathrooms, and maintain our 9.75-acre park serving 12 million visitors annually. 

I care deeply about the park and work hard to meet my standards. When I wipe graffiti off the arch or power-wash paint off the fountain and pathways, I keep going until there is no trace left behind. Doing my job well is satisfying for me – I want to keep the park clean for everyone.

There is never a dull moment in Washington Square Park. Every day there is something going on: musicians, performers, and other things to see or do. Please do your part to respect the park, and if you see me around, don’t be shy –come by and say hi. I look forward to meeting you!

If you want to learn more about what it takes to care for Washington Square Park, you can watch my full interview below.