City of New York Honors Former Mayor David Dinkins

The base of the pasarelle just outside the East Gate public entryway to the US Open now has a new name, "David Dinkins Circle," after the former mayor of New York City and current USTA Board Member who was instrumental in keeping the US Open tournament in New York.

"For me, this tournament brings so many things together that I love," Dinkins said. "I love this tournament, I love this sport and I love this city. I am deeply grateful that my name will forever be associated with this tournament. It's an honor."

Dinkins assisted the USTA’s relocation of the tournament in 1978 from the private club setting of Forest Hills to its current home at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, now the world’s largest public tennis facility. He also helped to re-route air traffic from neighboring LaGuardia Airport during the tournament, and then helped to develop the contract that kept the US Open in New York City.

Michael Bloomberg, the current mayor of New York City, spoke of Dinkins's contributions to the tournament, acknowledging the former mayor as a major proponent for the tournament's continued existence in New York City.

"We can thank David Dinkins that the US Open will remain in Queens for many years to come," he said. "We continue to benefit from the partnership he established more than 15 years ago."

The Circle, commemorating the 1964 World’s Fair, serves as the gateway through which most of the 700,000 annual visitors pass to attend the US Open.

In attendance at the dedication were Dinkins; Bloomberg; New York Gov. David Paterson; Edward Koch, former mayor of New York City; Betsy Gotbaum, the New York City Public Advocate; and Jane Brown Grimes, USTA President and Chairman of the Board.