NEW YORK − Recently, as the sun set over central Brooklyn at the end of summer, residents gathered on a street corner, captivated by the sight of goldfish and sparkling decorations. This enchanting spot, the Bed-Stuy fish pond, occupies a small space just the size of a sidewalk square, yet it has charmed over a million users on social media.

“We’re pioneering something unique and adding it to the almanac,” Floyd Washington, a co-creator of the pond, shared with YSL News.

The Bed-Stuy Aquarium is an imaginative blend of city street design and an aquarium. Its water is kept fresh by a consistent flow from a fire hydrant positioned in the middle. Since mid-September, the aquarium has been operational for around six weeks, nestled within a neighborhood of brownstones, bodegas, schools, restaurants, and the vibrant life of New York City.

<p”It’s not the spot you’d expect to find such a thing,” noted Washington, 43, who is a repairman at a grocery store located right across from the pond.

Both supporters and critics of the pond are curious about the fate of the goldfish as the seasons change and winter approaches. Washington assured that he and the other creators have plans, with ambitions to reopen the pond every spring and summer.

When did the Bed-Stuy fish pond start?

The now TikTok-famous fish pond originated as merely a puddle filling a gap in the sidewalk. This changed in early August when block residents decided to fill it with goldfish from a nearby pet store, according to Washington.

Previously, this muddy sidewalk gap had been an eyesore. Washington noted that the whimsical charm of the fish pond, although only a few inches deep, has significantly uplifted the local community, as residents told YSL News.

“I love the colors and the stories,” shared Joe Howard, who cruised by in a friend’s convertible one Friday night to see the fish.

Howard, a musician who moved to New York 30 years ago to pursue his recording career, snapped photos of the fish and expressed interest in writing a story inspired by them. Originally hailing from Savannah, Georgia, he found the pond’s design reminiscent of charming old seaport towns.

“We had an outrageous idea which has blossomed into something that unites people, and we don’t intend to dim that light or disrupt that joy,” Washington said.

Throughout August and September, the area transformed beautifully, adorned with signs, flowers, and a small fence that separates the fish from their surroundings. On Google Maps, it’s been designated as a “Cultural Landmark.”

The fish, about an inch long, are primarily orange, with some being orange-and-black and a few rare all-black varieties.

Pond faces vandalism and complaints

On the night of August 26, vandals tried to destroy the pond by filling it with trash, resulting in the loss of a few fish, according to Washington.

“We acted right away to fix the damage,” Washington stated to YSL News, adding that they started a GoFundMe campaign which successfully raised approximately $3,000. This funding helped facilitate a fish adoption event over Labor Day weekend, where nearly 100 children received a new backpack for school along with a fish they selected from the pond, placed directly into glass bowls.

“We are doing this purely out of goodwill,” Washington conveyed.

However, there have been some complaints made to the city regarding the pond, according to Washington.

The Deputy Commissioner of Public Information for the New York City Fire Department, Jim Long, mentioned that they received reports about the leaking hydrant in August, prompting firefighters to turn off the dripping water several times.

“Fire hydrants are not designed to remain in an ‘on’ state continuously,” Long explained to YSL News, noting that leaks could cause water pressure issues and that hydrants should be switched to the ‘off’ setting before being utilized for fire-fighting purposes.

Washington emphasized that the hydrant remains accessible for any emergency needs.

“As far as the fish are concerned, they’re doing well and thriving, it’s a wonderful environment for them,” Washington remarked.

‘Oasis’ in New York City

Residents of Brooklyn and Queens expressed to YSL News that the pond serves as a positive community feature, uniting neighbors, bringing joy to children, and creating a beautiful spot to enjoy.

Throughout the day, visitors relax on two benches positioned beside the pond, taking a moment to appreciate the calm amidst their hectic lives. Some, like Hara Limansah, have incorporated the pond into their daily habits.

“People intentionally detour to come here; it’s a delightful little spot to observe life unfold,” Limansah shared, who stops by the pond every morning for five minutes during her commute to her job in a hospital psychiatric ward, which she described as often “very stressful.”

“It’s like an oasis in a city that can often be quite stark; we encounter numerous unpleasant sights in New York, yet this provides a moment of beauty amidst the disorder,” Limansah, 34, told YSL News.

Sharik Atkinson, a local film director, also mentioned that she frequents the pond nearly every day.

“It provides me with a sense of grounding,” she stated to YSL News. “It’s a great way to kick off my day, just observing the spontaneous happenings around me.”

Charlotte Dunn enjoys bringing her 15-month-old son to see the pond, which immediately captivated the child one evening as he gazed in awe at the lively orange fish he spotted while sitting in his stroller.

“There’s so much life happening here and a lot of care has gone into it,” Dunn, 40, expressed. “That’s why I come by with him.”

People in vehicles and on bicycles pause in the street and on sidewalks to gaze at the pond, creating additional foot and vehicle traffic at the intersection.

According to Levi Collins, 25, a cashier at Chicky’s General Store located nearby, many people now stop to converse at a street corner that would have previously gone unnoticed.

“The interaction becomes a catalyst for conversation,” Collins noted.

How long will the Bed-Stuy Aquarium last?

Washington indicated that he and the other co-creators might seek a permit from the city to ensure the pond’s permanence, including through the winter months. He aspires to construct plexiglass around the pond to regulate its temperature during colder times. In circumstances where this isn’t achievable, Washington suggested that the goldfish may be relocated to someone’s home for the winter and returned to the sidewalk in the spring of 2025.

As summer transitions into fall this Sunday, the immediate future of the pond appears increasingly uncertain.

“This is why I’m making an effort to visit daily now because it’s such a lovely and community-driven initiative,” Atkinson concluded.