A community-created goldfish pond named the Bed-Stuy Aquarium met an abrupt end this week when city workers paved over the makeshift spot beneath a leaky fire hydrant in Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood.

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) filled the puddle with concrete, citing safety concerns, leaving a section taped off like a mini crime scene.

Locals and tourists alike mourned the loss of what became a quirky neighborhood icon and hangout spot.

City Shuts Down Bed-Stuy Aquarium

The small aquarium began this summer when a leaky fire hydrant eroded a shallow pool near a tree bed. Neighborhood residents, enchanted by the accidental pond, took it a step further by adding goldfish, decorations, and signs

. A bootleg sign reading “BEDSTUY AQUARIUM” even made the location easily recognizable and a minor tourist attraction on Google Maps.

Residents embraced the pond, turning the spot into a place for social gatherings and late-night celebrations. However, not everyone was pleased.

Concerns about the fish’s well-being prompted a few locals to “rescue” some of the goldfish over the summer, only to have others replenish the pond and station a watch to protect it.

City Cites Safety Concerns, Residents Protest

Despite its local charm, city officials viewed the Bed-Stuy Aquarium as a problem. A constantly leaking hydrant can freeze over in winter, creating hazards, according to the DEP.

The city’s solution was to fix the hydrant and fill the surrounding area with concrete. Residents, dismayed by this action, expressed their frustration, noting the irony of filling in one of the few holes that had brought joy to the community.

“I can’t believe this,” said Sofia Talavera, visibly upset while looking at the paved-over area. “People invested time and effort to create something beautiful, and it was a place where the community came together.”

Visitors and Locals Mourn Their Lost Landmark

Locals weren’t the only ones disappointed. Tourists who had discovered the spot on Google Maps stopped by, only to find freshly poured concrete instead of the pond they expected.

Adam Aguilar, a visual artist from California, planned to send photos of the quirky aquarium to friends but had to settle for an impromptu memorial with flowers and candles.

With the hydrant fixed on Tuesday, it didn’t take long for residents to refill the pond, sparking tense exchanges with city workers.

Eventually, police were called in to oversee the final cement work, preventing any further interventions.

Finding a New Home for the Bed-Stuy Aquarium

Although the beloved pond is now gone, there’s hope that the aquarium could find a new home. The DEP stated they’re open to working with the community to find a safer alternative, like relocating it to a nearby community garden.

Others suggested turning a derelict storefront on the same block into an indoor aquarium and hangout space.

For now, however, the loss stings for residents like Jon Frier, who joked about getting a jackhammer to undo the cement job. He tried to draw a goldfish in the wet concrete but was stopped by a loud honk from a DEP truck, followed by a warning from a police officer.

“Doesn’t it feel like they just can’t let us have anything nice?” he said, expressing disappointment with the city’s decision.

A Final Goodbye to Brooklyn’s Quirky Landmark

The loss of the Bed-Stuy Aquarium struck a personal note for neighborhood children like eight-year-old Walter Jordan Jr. III, who visited daily after school.

Adults, too, found the spot a rare late-night retreat without strict closing hours like city parks.

Talavera recalled a moment when, after the New York Liberty’s WNBA championship win, she celebrated by stopping by the beloved hydrant aquarium.