Brooklyn Community Comes Together To Restore Goldfish Pond

NEW YORK, NEW YORK—AUGUST 13: Goldfish swim in a puddle under a leaking fire hydrant on August 13, 2024, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Called the "Bed-Stuy Goldfish Pond," the sidewalk puddle has acquired over 30 goldfish after someone keeps dumping the fish in the water. The little pond has become an attraction in the neighborhood, with dozens of people stopping by to look and area children feeding the fish. Supporters want the puddle made permanent and have launched a GoFundMe campaign to help fund it.
(Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

One community in Brooklyn came together to restore a goldfish pond that was destroyed in Bedford-Stuyvesant on Monday night. 

The small makeshift pond was created by Bed-Stuy residents once they noticed that a leaky fire hydrant flooded a tree pit. According to reports, community residents would normally take turns watching the pond, however on Monday night around 9 pm, no one was watching and it was vandalized. 

News of the destroyed pond was posted on Reddit and it received a lot of comments and concerns. One resident said, “It was fresh when I came. It was like a crime scene… dead fish. I buried a few tonight.” 

The residents lined the tree bed with bricks and rocks and brought 100 goldfish to the newly restored pond. The fish can be seen swimming in the shallow pond and has been named the “Hancock Street Bed-Stuy Aquarium.”

It was also reported that there were broken shelves on the street near the puddle and a burial site for the dead goldfish. “It’s very unfortunate that, you know, some vandals came through and took something away or tried to take something away from a community that was very, very, loved,” another resident said, 

It has not been made clear who committed the heinous act, however, residents are hoping to find the culprits as well as keep a close eye on the pond moving forward. A GoFundMe page has raised $2,800 with a goal of $5,000.