NEW YORK — A pair of longtime Brooklyn residents recently transformed a tree pit, often flooded by a leaky fire hydrant, into an unexpected neighborhood attraction: a makeshift aquarium.
Hajj-Malik Lovick, a 47-year-old lifelong resident of Bedford-Stuyvesant, shared how the idea emerged while relaxing in the heat. “We started joking about: what if we added fish? Since the water is always sitting in the puddle, why not make it more interesting?”
After reinforcing the edges of the tree bed with rocks and bricks, they purchased 100 goldfish from a local pet store and introduced them into the shallow basin. Almost instantly, the appearance of the goldfish swimming in the pit fascinated locals, leading to its nickname, “the Hancock Street Bed-Stuy Aquarium.”
However, as social media buzzed with videos and stories about the unique project, it drew the attention of city officials and stirred concern among animal rights advocates. On Wednesday morning, residents Emily Campbell and Max David undertook a rescue mission, removing about 30 fish from the two-inch deep waters, citing concerns over their well-being.
The rescue efforts ignited a broader discussion surrounding gentrification in the historically Black neighborhood, which has experienced an influx of new residents in recent years. Campbell remarked, “I’m aware of the optics of a white person coming in and telling someone who’s lived here his whole life that he doesn’t know what he’s doing. I just don’t want to see the fish suffer.”
Campbell, 29, is currently working to rehome the rescued fish and has kept many in tanks at her apartment. She emphasized her concern for the fish’s well-being and the community’s divisiveness.
Supporters of the sidewalk aquarium argue that it has enriched the neighborhood and improved the lives of the goldfish. They provide daily care, feeding the fish thrice a day and monitoring the hydrant to maintain a gentle flow of water.
“I feel like we’re helping the goldfish,” Lovick stated. “These people came here and just want to change things.”
In recent days, community members have contributed decorations and fish food, fostering connections among neighbors. Floyd Washington, one of the aquarium’s caretakers, noted, “It brings conversation in the community. People stop on their way to work and get to see something serene.”
Plans are in place to keep the fish in the pit for about two weeks before donating them to local children. Visitors to the aquarium include grocery workers, entertainers, and curious passersby.
“This is a beautiful guerrilla intervention,” said an architect who also owns goldfish. “It’s creating a city that’s alive.”
As the debate continues, a spokesperson for the city’s Department of Environmental Protection acknowledged the safety hazards posed by leaking hydrants, stressing that a better home exists for the fish than a sidewalk.
As of Friday afternoon, dozens of goldfish remained in the tree pit, continuing to attract attention within the community.
