A plan to install permanent gates at the iconic Washington Square Park is igniting a tug-of-war between safety and preserving the Big Apple park’s historically “free” spirit.

The proposal to fence off the entrances comes after safety concerns first arose following the COVID-19 pandemic — when the park became a home to late-night debauchery and open-air drug use tied to dozens of overdoses.

Some frustrated locals are now pushing for permanent gates to enforce the park’s midnight curfew, noting the current NYPD barricades used to block late-night access are easily pushed aside.

“This park is locked, it’s just not properly locked,” said Greenwich Village resident George Vallonakis, who redesigned the park in the early 2000s.

“It’s very hard for anyone from the parks department or NYPD to properly lock those entrances.”

The landscape architect noted the same debate took place two decades ago during the redesign process.

Beyond safety, Vallonakis argued the historic park’s entrances should aesthetically match the rest of the famous green space.

“Every entrance is a park experience,” he said.

“When you look at the ugly chains, it’s not a good image of what NYC should be, including police barricades.”

If given the greenlight, it wouldn’t be the first time Washington Square Park had fencing — for decades, beginning in the 1820s, the park was locked with permanent gates.

“Now it’s time to replace the unattractive police barricades with appropriate gates that really represent the history of that park,” Vallonakis added, “which it did have for 50-plus years, and it was locked.”

But not all New Yorkers are ready for the park, a longtime symbol of protest, performance and public expression, to be officially fenced-off.

“I think it’s a horrible idea because it’s just gonna make everything feel closed off,” said longtime Greenwich Village artist Marilyn Jane.

“I like the vibe and chaos. I used to live in Venice Beach, maybe I’m a biased observer. But I really love the park the way it is.”

Photographer Kat Lazaro, 53, who hails from Europe, said people don’t “close” parks at night.

“It’s where young lovers comes to hang out, young kids come to hang out.” she said. “People have a right to get together here.”

“That would be devastating,” chimed in 28-year-old barista Chip.

“Everybody loves the park. “Park are supposed to welcome people, not keep them out.”

“I don’t feel unsafe here: I’ve come here at night many times, walk through the park at night many times,” said college professor John Kruth, 70.

“I think that there’s this whole tendency towards authoritarianism right now, that’s so out of control.”

Student Zachary Foster, 19, finds the park “quite peaceful” and said permanent gates “would kind of destroy people’s love for the park in a way, because it’s so open and free in that you can kind of do anything.”

“I just feel like it can really destroy, and create a lack of, community,” he added.

NYC Parks told The Post there isn’t a formal proposal to install the gates, but “if a resolution is approved by the full community board, NYC Parks will work with the Washington Square Park Conservancy to do so.”

The community board’s Parks & Waterfront Committee agreed Wednesday to draft a resolution that would request the parks department to provide “traditional and non-traditional closure recommendations,” the park’s Conservancy, which supports the drafting of the resolution, told The Post.