New York University will hold its commencement on May 11 in Washington Square Park, where the graduation ceremony has taken place for the past 30 years.
Despite the three-decade tradition, the announcement by Greg Albanis, N.Y.U. director of events, at the April 3 Community Board 2 Parks Committee meeting was a real news item because the Department of Parks had planned to begin its two-year park reconstruction in May.
“The university had plans to move the commencement to Shea Stadium but Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe told us last week that the reconstruction would start in July, so we’re back in Washington Square,” Albanis said.
Installing the seats for graduating students and their families, the pavilion for honored guests, the portable toilets and the sound system will begin 7 a.m. Monday morning May 8.
“We’ll be out by midnight on Thurs. May 11,” Albanis promised.
Nevertheless, the playgrounds will remain open for Village children the whole time and the area from the Holley monument west will be open to the general public.
“We have a contractor who will leave the park in better condition that we found it,” Albanis said.
Eady Selman and Susan Goren, who live on Washington Pl. where the traditional “Grad Alley” carnival event had taken place to the annoyance of neighbors, insisted on addressing the problems of that event. Albanis, however, said no complaints were registered last year when Grad Alley was moved to LaGuardia Pl.
The committee, however, concentrated only on the use of Washington Square Park as the commencement site and voted to recommend approval by the full board later this month.
