Unisphere To Shine Anew

The Unisphere is set to receive a million dollars worth of renovations and refurbishments for the first time in 14 years.
The 140-foot-high, 900,000-pound structure is the centerpiece of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park and the quintessential symbol of Queens.
It has been standing since the 1964 World’s Fair and has long been in need of mechanical repairs specific to the surrounding fountains, which are an important part of the design and structure of the Unisphere.
The fountains are rarely turned on, aside from special events, due to leakage problems. The system’s vault leaks water into nearby structures like the Queens Museum of Art and the ice rink.
The money for the project has been allocated by Borough President Helen Marshall in the 2006 budget.
“The Unisphere is beautiful when the fountain is up and running,” Marshall said. “This is money well spent. It is the unofficial symbol of Queens and we want to keep it attractive.”
The Parks Department intends to assess the pumps and piping supplying the water to the fountain and make repairs to the mechanical controls.
Work will begin in late summer or early fall of 2006 and is expected to take between six and nine months. The repairs will allow the fountains to be in use all summer long.