"The Parks Department attributes the significant deterioration of the mosaics to natural weather conditions. Because loose and missing tiles can lead to trips and falls, the works of art were deemed a safety hazard. A representative for the Department says, "The decision to remove the mosaic medallions was made after several attempts at repair, in consultation with specialists, and with the support of the original designer.""
"In November 2024, The New York Post broke the news that the New York City Parks Department planned to remove the mosaics. Gloria Nash, author of Looking Back At The Future and an advocate for preserving the mosaics, shared photos with us in July 2025 of the spaces where the medallions used to be. By August, once the U.S. Open arrived, the holes had been filled in with pavers, leaving barely a trace of what was once there."
Five tile mosaics at David Dinkins Circle in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park were removed and the areas replaced with pavers. The Passarelle Plaza mosaics were installed in 1997 to commemorate the 1939–40 and 1964–65 World's Fairs. The New York City Parks Department attributed significant deterioration to weather and identified loose and missing tiles as a trip hazard. Officials said removal followed several repair attempts, consultation with specialists, and support from the original designer, and that removal might enable future preservation. Photos from July 2025 showed excavated sites covered with cement; by August the holes were filled with pavers.
Read at Untapped New York
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