Editing Unisphere (section)

=== 2000s to present ===
[[File:Unisphere-22972.jpg|thumb|alt=Fountains around the base of the Unisphere|Fountains around the Unisphere]]
The fountains at the Unisphere's base were shut off in 2001 due to citywide water restrictions; they were not reactivated until early 2003, seventeen months later.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Cardwell|first=Diane|date=April 17, 2003|title=Throw a Coin and Hear a Splash: City Fills Its Fountains|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url-access=limited|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/17/nyregion/throw-a-coin-and-hear-a-splash-city-fills-its-fountains.html|access-date=July 26, 2021|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=July 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726170232/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/17/nyregion/throw-a-coin-and-hear-a-splash-city-fills-its-fountains.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The pool around the globe was also drained because Mayor [[Michael Bloomberg]] had prohibited water from being used for ornamental purposes.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Barron|first=James|author-link=James Barron (journalist)|date=April 21, 2002|title=Water, Water Nowhere, So the Fountains Stay Dry|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url-access=limited|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/21/nyregion/water-water-nowhere-so-the-fountains-stay-dry.html|access-date=July 26, 2021|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=July 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726170226/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/21/nyregion/water-water-nowhere-so-the-fountains-stay-dry.html|url-status=live}}</ref> By 2008, city officials planned to fix the pipes under the Unisphere.<ref name="nydn20080916">{{Cite news|date=September 16, 2008|title=Unisphere work to restore its misty mystique|pages=65|work=New York Daily News|via=newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82222093/unisphere-work-to-restore-its-misty/|access-date=July 26, 2021|last=Hirshon|first=Nicholas|archive-date=July 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726172425/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82222093/unisphere-work-to-restore-its-misty/|url-status=live}}</ref> At the time, the fountains leaked excessively; to save money, NYC Parks only operated the fountains throughout the entire day whenever the [[US Open (tennis)|US Open]] was being held.<ref name="nydn20080916" /><ref>{{Cite news|last=Kilgannon|first=Corey|date=August 25, 2011|title=Circling the Unisphere, a Borough's Backyard|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url-access=limited|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/26/arts/flushing-meadows-corona-park-queens-a-boroughs-backyard.html|access-date=July 26, 2021|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=July 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726023506/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/26/arts/flushing-meadows-corona-park-queens-a-boroughs-backyard.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Due to concerns by city officials that people would wade into the pools, some officials had proposed several years prior that the Unisphere be surrounded by a fence or bushes, but former parks commissioner [[Henry Stern (New York politician)|Henry Stern]] had expressed opposition to such proposals.<ref name="nydn20080916" /> Local media reported in 2009 that grass had begun to grow within the steel mass representing Antarctica.<ref name="Hirshon 2009">{{cite web|last=Hirshon|first=Nicholas|date=August 21, 2009|title=Global warning? Grass grows on South Pole of Flushing Meadows' Unisphere|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/global-warning-grass-grows-south-pole-flushing-meadows-unisphere-article-1.399679|access-date=July 26, 2021|website=New York Daily News|archive-date=July 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726023506/https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/global-warning-grass-grows-south-pole-flushing-meadows-unisphere-article-1.399679|url-status=live}}</ref> NYC Parks officials suspected that bird feces and an accumulation of leaves had contributed to an environment in which seeds could germinate.<ref name="Hirshon 2009" /><ref>{{cite web|last=Carlson|first=Jen|date=August 21, 2009|title=Neglected Unisphere Sprouts Grass in Queens|url=http://gothamist.com/news/neglected-unisphere-sprouts-grass-in-queens|access-date=July 26, 2021|website=Gothamist|archive-date=July 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726023510/https://gothamist.com/news/neglected-unisphere-sprouts-grass-in-queens|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Unisphere's fountains were rededicated on August 12, 2010, after a $2 million restoration of the pumps, valves, and paintwork.<ref name="n82194889">{{cite news|last=Hirshon|first=Nicholas|date=August 13, 2010|title=Fountain's Return|newspaper=New York Daily News|via=newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82194889/fountains-return/|access-date=July 25, 2021|archive-date=July 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726023507/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82194889/fountains-return/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Carlson|first=Jen|date=August 14, 2010|title=Finally: Unisphere Fountain Restored!|url=http://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/finally-unisphere-fountain-restored|access-date=July 27, 2020|website=Gothamist|language=en|archive-date=July 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727180423/https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/finally-unisphere-fountain-restored|url-status=live}}</ref> The refurbished fountains operated daily during the summer for the first time in more than two decades.<ref name="p750198061" /><ref name="n82194889" /> In the September [[2010 Brooklyn–Queens tornadoes]], the landmass representing [[Sri Lanka]] was blown off the Unisphere. The piece was reinstalled the following year.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kilgannon|first=Corey|date=August 21, 2011|title=When a Tornado in Queens Becomes an International Incident|url=https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/21/when-a-tornado-in-queens-becomes-an-international-incident/|access-date=November 4, 2019|website=City Room|language=en-US|archive-date=March 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309231428/https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/21/when-a-tornado-in-queens-becomes-an-international-incident/|url-status=live}}</ref> After the fountains were turned back on, visitors often played within the pool and fountains, especially after a neighboring set of fountains to the east broke down.<ref>{{cite web|last=Plitt|first=Amy|date=February 13, 2018|title=World's Fair fountains in Queens will transform into 'mist gardens'|url=https://ny.curbed.com/2018/2/13/17007934/queens-flushing-meadows-park-world-fair-fountains-renovation|access-date=July 26, 2021|website=Curbed NY|archive-date=July 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726023508/https://ny.curbed.com/2018/2/13/17007934/queens-flushing-meadows-park-world-fair-fountains-renovation|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Honan 2018">{{cite web|last=Honan|first=Katie|date=February 12, 2018|title=World's Fair fountains in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park to get $5 million makeover|url=https://www.amny.com/news/worlds-fair-fountains-queens-1-16726028/|access-date=July 26, 2021|website=amNewYork|archive-date=July 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726023507/https://www.amny.com/news/worlds-fair-fountains-queens-1-16726028/|url-status=live}}</ref> This was despite the fact that people were technically not allowed to enter the pool and fountains.<ref name="Honan 2018" /><ref name="Civil Engineering Source 2021">{{cite web|date=February 11, 2021|title=Then and Now: NYC rebuilds iconic Fountain of the Fairs as a fog garden|url=https://source.asce.org/then-and-now-nyc-rebuilds-iconic-fountain-of-the-fairs-as-a-fog-garden/|access-date=July 26, 2021|website=Civil Engineering Source|archive-date=July 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726023509/https://source.asce.org/then-and-now-nyc-rebuilds-iconic-fountain-of-the-fairs-as-a-fog-garden/|url-status=live}}</ref> To prevent people from being hurt by the powerful fountainheads,<ref name="Civil Engineering Source 2021" /> NYC Parks added barricades, opened fire hydrants, and hired patrol officers to deter people from going into the pool area. Even so, some people still entered the pool area.<ref name="Honan 2018" />