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Bed-Stuy goldfish pond cemented overnight, residents confused

Bed-Stuy residents say they are in shock Friday after finding out their beloved community fish pond was cemented over - while they were asleep.

Jodi-Juliana Powell

Oct 25, 2024, 10:40 PM

Updated 19 days ago

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Bed-Stuy residents say they are in shock Friday after finding out their beloved community fish pond was cemented over - while they were asleep.
Caution tape is now all around where the pond once was - to protect the freshly cemented sidewalk.
On Wednesday, News 12 was told that the pond would be revamped.
FDNY fixed the leaky hydrant, and the pond was drained to make it deeper so the fish would have more room to swim.
On Friday, Brooklyn residents said they were confused by both the loss of their pond and how long it took for the sidewalk to be fixed.
"The sidewalk was like this for 17 years if not 20...You are just now fixing this? I know two people with lawsuits from spraining their ankles and they didn't fix it even then but you fix it now because it brought a community together," said Iasia Ware, a Bed-Stuy resident.
News 12 spoke with Chi Osse, a council member for the area who says his office was also shocked by the pond being closed off.
"It was completely aggressive and uncalled for, and I wish they even notified our office about it," said Chi Osse, Council Member.
The Department of Environmental Protection tells News 12 in a statement it wants to work with the community to find an alternate location for the pond, like in a community garden in the neighborhood.
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