Staff Bios

Will Morrison

Executive Director/NYC Parks Administrator
contact: will@washingtonsqpark.org or call (917)-301-5034

WSP administrator and Conservancy Executive Director Will Morrison smiles on the top of the Arch with the Park and skyline looking downtown behind him

Will Morrison began his career at NYC Parks in the summer of 2013, and has been a Parkie ever since. After completing his degree in Political Science & Urban Studies at Trinity College in 2014 he joined the agency full-time in the Marketing & Citywide Special Events division, where he worked for six years.

In November of 2020 Will joined Manhattan Operations as the Deputy Administrator of Washington Square Park and officially took on the role of Administrator in September 2022. During his time in the position, Will has worked with borough operations, sister agencies, community stakeholders, and non-profit partners like WSPC to guide the park through the pandemic and its aftershocks. 

Now joining the Conservancy team in a dual position as Executive Director, Will is looking forward to bringing his expertise, relentlessly positive attitude, and collaborative spirit to the hardworking Conservancy team. Will is a native New Yorker who grew up on the Upper West Side and for the last eight years has lived in the East Village just off Tompkins Square Park. His many hobbies include photography, hiking, camping, skiing, scuba diving, sailing, and gardening all of which he enjoys with his incredible wife Reneé.

Grace Harman

Community Relations Director
contact: grace@washingtonsqpark.org or call (917) 519-5404

Grace Harman joined as Communications Manager in September of 2018 and took on the role of Community Relations Director in 2021. In her position she works to keep the community informed on and engaged with the Conservancy’s efforts to help make the park clean, safe and beautiful. Writing all the public content and interacting with various stakeholders, Grace is the voice of the Conservancy to the community. Previously she served as Press Secretary and Deputy Chief of Staff for a U.S. Representative.

Grace earned her BA in English and International Affairs from Skidmore College in 2013 and a Masters in Public Administration from Baruch College in 2018. A Manhattanite born and raised, Grace is a longtime Washington Square Park lover and user. In fact it’s where she took her husband on their second date. In her spare time she likes to bake (the Park staff call her “cookie lady” for a reason!), read sci-fi novels, and spoil her dog.

Kaitlyn Yates

Programs Manager
contact: kaitlyn@washingtonsqpark.org 

Kaitlyn Yates joined WSPC as Programs Manager in June of 2022. In her role, she works to create and coordinate impactful programs through community partnerships designed for all to participate in. As an educator, she strives to create welcoming and inclusive community environments through meaningful and accessible educational programming. 

Kaitlyn has an extensive volunteer history in both neighborhood food accessibility and community gardens. She previously worked as Youth Program Director designing enriching educational programs and promoting early literacy at public libraries, and as a Site Manager for a Decorative Arts museum. 

As a hobby film photographer and self-professed pretty good cook, you can either find her in a darkroom or in her kitchen when she’s not at the Park.