Forest Hills Tennis Star Murals Damaged By Water Leaking From LIRR Underpass

FOREST HILLS, QUEENS — Popular murals of tennis players including Queens native John McEnroe that are painting on a Long Island Rail Road underpass in Forest Hills' have been damaged by water, officials said.

The paintings on the walls of the passage on 71st Road between Austin and Burns Streets have been affected by numerous leaks in recent weeks. Both were completed in June 2016.

A recent MTA inspection revealed that the underpass has waterproofing issues, according to the Queens Chronicle. Repairs aren't scheduled until August 2018.

As a result of the leaking, much of the mural depicting Douglaston native McEnroe has been damaged. A second mural on the west side of the underpass depicting a number of tennis players who have played at Forest Hills Stadium had also been affected.

The murals on the section of the underpass on Ascan Avenue have not been affected by water, according to Micheal Perlman of the Rego-Forest Preservation Council, which oversaw their painting. The murals on this section were painted early April 2017.

"MTA should not wait until 2018 to address this issue," said Perlman.

"Murals are a significant part of Forest Hills' culture. Every effort should be made to restore them."

He suggested that the murals be covered with a protective layer after they were restored to prevent further damage.

Lead image by Ali Kucukgocmen