World’s Fair site receives a major upgrade

The Parks Department and elected officials ceremoniously break ground on the latest New York State Pavilion construction last week. Photo by Daniel Avila/NYC Parks.

By Victoria Merlino

The Parks Department is continuing to rehab the old 1964 World’s Fair structures at Flushing Meadows Corona Park, breaking ground on the reconstruction of the New York State Pavilion Observation Towers last week.

“The work we are breaking ground on today will go a long way toward restoring the iconic New York State Pavilion to its former glory,” Queens Borough President Melinda Katz said in a statement. “This work will enable future generations to continue to enjoy the Pavilion’s distinctive Space Age architecture and be reminded about the important role the 1964-65 World’s Fair played in Queens history.”

The structures in the World’s Fair area, most notably the Unisphere, have become Queens landmarks. The $24 million project, funded by Katz, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Councilmember Franciso Moya, will see the towers’ bases waterproofed, electrical upgrades, structural preservation measures and stair replacement. 

Other World’s Fair structure will see upgrades as well, notably the “Fountain of the Fairs” around the Unisphere’s base, which will become an elaborate kids’ water park when construction on it is finished. 

This is not the first time Katz has taken an interest in preserving the World’s Fair structures. In 2015, Katz recruited painters to assist in repainting the State Pavilion’s Tent of Tomorrow, and 30 bridge painters volunteered 8,000 hours to finish the job.