New York’s historic Washington Square Park resembles a dirty garbage dump the morning after hundreds of revelers again ditched their masks to celebrate the city’s return to near-normality
New York’s historic Washington Square Park resembled a dirty garbage dump Saturday, after hundreds of maskless revellers descended on the area to celebrate the city's return to near-normality.
Garbage and litter was strewn across the pavements and lawns in the park Saturday morning with the Big Apple's pigeon population seen taking advantage of the remnants of food left behind from the night before.
Empty bottles of booze were scattered along the benches, while cans of beer (and who knows what else) floated in the water of its iconic fountain.
Saturday's scenes show the aftermath of a huge party Friday night where crowds of New Yorkers danced and drank long into the night.
New York’s historic Washington Square Park resembled a dirty garbage dump Saturday, after hundreds of maskless revelers descended on the area to celebrate the city's return to near-normality
Garbage and litter was strewn across the pavements and lawns in the park Saturday morning with the Big Apple's pigeon population seen taking advantage of the remnants of food left behind from the night before
Saturday's scenes are the aftermath of a huge party Friday night where crowds of New Yorkers danced and drank long into the night (above)
New Yorkers dance the night away in Washington Square Park Friday night as the Big Apple continues to return to normal
Hundreds of people gathered maskless with some entertaining the crowds with live singing on a mic and one man even fire breathing.
Many ditched their masks after the CDC updated its guidance on face coverings this week to say fully vaccinated Americans can go without masks in most circumstances.
New York, however, still has a mask mandate in place with officials yet to lift the requirement.
The park has become a popular party destination in recent months as New Yorkers continue to return to normal life after the pandemic transformed the city last year.
Bars and restaurants faced some of the tightest restrictions over the last year and have still not fully reopened in the Big Apple.
Residents have taken matters into their own hands, bringing the party to Washington Square Park.
But it seems to have taken its toll on Manhattan's famous park, which had seen better days Saturday.
What was once a popular place for families to play and runners to jog resembled a garbage dump with used needles and dirty clothes lying around the area.
Empty bottles of booze and brown paper bags were scattered along the benches and the ground of the park Saturday
The park resembled a garbage dump Saturday morning as the remnants of the party the night before were clear to see
Cans of beer and seltzer (and who knows what else) floated in the water of its iconic fountain along with plastic and glass bottles
The scene Saturday morning after hundreds gathered in the park Friday night for a huge party with dancing and singing
What was once a popular place for families to play and runners to jog resembled a garbage dump with used needles and dirty clothes lying around the area
The party seems to have taken its toll on Manhattan's famous park, which had seen better days Saturday morning
One year ago, New York City was the virus epicenter of the world, healthcare systems were on the brink of collapse and bodies were piling up in morgues and refrigerated trucks in the streets.
The city turned into a ghost town as Governor Andrew Cuomo issued a stay-at-home order in March, shuttering businesses and non-essential retailers and telling people to stay at home to slow the spread of the virus.
The once bustling streets of Manhattan became deserted overnight and rich New Yorkers fled to second homes - with some quitting life in the Big Apple for good.
Homelessness soared with encampments springing up on the streets of the city as millions were thrown into unemployment overnight and crucial addiction services fell by the wayside amid the pandemic.
Hundreds of people gathered maskless in the park Friday night to party the night away as the Big Apple breathes back to life
Many ditched their masks after the CDC updated its guidance on face coverings this week to say fully vaccinated Americans can go without masks in most circumstances
One man was seen fire breathing in the park as people entertained each other with antics, singing and dancing
People dressed up for the occasion with some appearing to be in brightly-colored fancy dress costumes and hats made from cardboard boxes
New York still has a mask mandate in place with officials yet to lift the requirement despite the update in CDC guidance
Friday night's revelry suggests the city is breathing back to life.
Now, 41 percent of all New Yorkers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and more than half have had at least their first dose.
The city is continuing to reopen at an increasing pace, with restrictions easing again this month on hard-hit restaurants and bars.
On May 17, the midnight curfew for outdoor dining areas of bars and restaurants across the state will be lifted, followed by the indoor curfew on May 31.
This comes after customers were finally able to sit at bars in New York City from May 3 and, days earlier, Cuomo's controversial pandemic-era rule that required customers to order food when buying alcohol in bars and restaurants was scrapped.
While the lifting of these rules will likely send people back to the city's iconic bar and restaurant scene, in the meantime partiers have been making use of Washington Square Park.
The park has become a popular party destination in recent months as New Yorkers continue to return to normal life after the pandemic transformed the city last year
It marks a drastic change from one year ago, when New York City was the virus epicenter of the world and the city turned into a ghost town
One person is seen singing into a mic entertaining a crowd of people gathered Friday night in the Manhattan park
Friday night's revelry shows the city is breathing back to life Now, 41 percent of all New Yorkers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and more than half have had at least their first dose
The city is continuing to reopen at an increasing pace, with restrictions easing again this month on hard-hit restaurants and bars
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