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The 1950s plan for a Washington Square Highway Another half-baked idea that (luckily) never got off the ground was a plan for a highway running through Washington Square Park, proposed many times through the 1950s by “master builder” Robert Moses. As Parks Commissioner in 1940, Moses originally wanted to build a “double highway” snaking along the side of Washington Square Park (left). At the time, a narrow roadway let vehicles go south from Fifth Avenue to Washington Square South (above, in 1950). That double highway was shot down thanks to opposition from local residents, business owners, and NYU officials. But Moses wasn’t giving up so easily.

District of columbiaUnited statesDupont circleNew yorkWashington archGreenwich villageWashington square parkWashington squareRobert mosesRachel carsonRoberta brandes gratzGeorge vellonakisDouglas andrew willingerMarie winnJane jacobsNew york city