Fate Unknown for Diversity Mosaic in Downtown Sioux Falls

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Sioux Falls officials are determining the fate of a downtown mosaic celebrating diversity that's falling apart.

The Argus Leader reports the colorful 496-foot CommUnity Youth Mosaic is missing tiles and others are stained. It was built in the late 2000s out of a vision form schoolchildren, and it became property of the city, which agreed to maintain it.

Upkeep has been sparse. Mosaic creators believe vibrations from a nearby demolition in 2012 caused many tiles to loosen. Chemicals applied to the adjacent roadway splash up the mosaic and stain it.

The city thinks the land that the mosaic could be a target for redevelopment. Community development director Darrin Smith says they'll know in a matter of months whether it'll see development, or it could become a recreational site.

City planner Mike Cooper said the mosaic has been cleaned a number of times — by artist Porter Williams, and by employees of Syverson Tile, which had provided the tiles for the mosaic. But Cooper said the city has not been involved in maintaining the wall.

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