The southern end of Cadman Plaza in downtown Brooklyn always looks gray. The area in front of the Supreme Court building was renamed Columbus Park in 1971, for no apparent reason, and the life-size marble statue made by Emma Stebbins in the 1860’s was installed. Could be the parks department had the statue, which came to Brooklyn via Chinatown, Manhattan, and needed a proper, respectful setting for it.
Pix and other images 
As a remote descendant of Amerigo Vespucci (another noted Italian explorer, but largely and unfairly forgotten to history), I’d like to say “D*mn you, Columbus!”