To Permit Or Not to Permit: the WSP Pillow Fight

By Emily RocheAh, yes, springtime. The playful splashing of the fountain in Washington Square Park, the emergence of fresh flowers in the sidewalk foliage along 10th street, the fine, fluffy crust of feathers fused to every surface of the park.Ah, yes, the springtime Washington Square Park Pillow Fight.

This event has long been a source of much delight and confusion for locals and tourists alike who have, by accident or design, stumbled into its chaotic, pillowy midst. I fondly remember my freshman year pillow fight. Having heard of the event, my friends and I gleefully rushed through the queue at K-Mart and, armed with a battalion of brand new $5 pillows, headed into the fray for a delightful thirty seconds of bedding-themed melee.

After which we quickly tired, and retreated to watch the event from Kimmel. These past two years, Ive avoided the pillow fight, but the aftermath isnt as easy to escape. The 2014 Pillow Fight left Washington Square Park a shambles, with fist-sized globs of feathery down littering the square and lawn in a snowy, sticky coating.

Despite the fact that participants were asked to refrain from bringing down pillows to the brawl and that volunteers were recruited to help clean up, the remnants of the Pillow Fight clearly indicate that these instructions were not adequately followed. So whos responsible for this? A company called Newmindspace plans the annual event, not to mention several others like it, including the Washington Square Park Light Saber Fight.

The groups facebook page describes their mission as interactive public art, creative cultural interventions and urban bliss dissemination. It seems like a whole lot of fun and games, until you remember that Newmindspace is actually a for-profit company. How could they be profiting off of these events?

By selling light sabers in the park at a steadily rising price point and by selling tickets for an exclusive Pillow Fight after party for a cool $25 at the door.Newmindspaces party hearty philosophy has really ruffled the feathers of the Washington Square Park Association (Get it? Feathers?

Get it?). A neighborhood organization devoted to service for the local community they also sponsor events like the annual Washington Square Tree Lighting , the WSPA has repeatedly tried to oust Newmindspaces parties, for which they have never received a permit.

Although the Pillow Fight and Light Saber Fight are not officially permitted, they are legal because of our freedom of assembly. These unofficial events draw crowds of hundreds to the square and rack up extra hours of work for the Parks Department, who did not respond when asked for comment.Are non-permitted events in the park a detriment to our park?

Or are these simply fun occasions aimed at bringing a little cheer to our neighborhood? If you are a proud Pillow Fight supporter, you can rest easily for now. Despite the outrage of the parks and others who are against non-permitted mass gatherings, it doesnt look like these events will be put to bed any time soon.

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