2 publishers · first seen Thu, 29 Oct 2026 16:15 UTC · updated Thu, 29 Oct 2026 19:33 UTC
The Philadelphia Portal will remain at City Hall for the foreseeable future after a 'generous patron' provided support to continue its operation, Mayor Cherelle Parker said Thursday. The installation was set to be removed by Saturday due to the expiration of its permit on October 31 and the upcoming Christmas Village setup, but discussions are now underway to potentially preserve it long-term, according to Portals.org CEO Nicolas Klaus. The Portal, a large circular screen enabling silent video connections with cities including Dublin, Ireland; Lublin, Poland; and Piauí, Brazil, was initially installed in LOVE Park in October 2024 ahead of the nation's 250th anniversary and moved to City Hall in April 2025 after repeated vandalism.
Mayor Parker stated there are no plans for the Portal to leave anytime soon and emphasized its role in connecting Philadelphians with each other and the world. Portals.org had previously announced the device would be taken down and placed in storage if no funding or new location was secured, with Miami mentioned as a possible destination.
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