In the bustling Brooklyn borough of New York, a unique sight caught the attention of passersby last week. A pool of water next to a leaky fire hydrant in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood had been transformed into a makeshift aquarium, complete with 100 common goldfish swimming around. The brainchild of longtime residents Hajj-Malik Lovick and his friend, the project quickly became a neighborhood curiosity, drawing visitors who dubbed it “the Hancock Street Bed-Stuy Aquarium.”
The idea for the aquarium came about as Lovick and his friend were lounging in the heat, observing a sidewalk tree pit that was often flooded by the leaky fire hydrant. They decided to enhance the area by fortifying the edges of the tree bed with rocks and brick, and then purchased the goldfish from a local pet store for a mere $16. The appearance of the fish swimming in the shallow basin added a touch of whimsy to the neighborhood and sparked conversations among residents.
However, as videos and news stories about the fish pit began circulating online, the project drew concern from city officials and backlash from animal rights advocates. In the early hours of Wednesday morning, two neighborhood residents, Emily Campbell and Max David, carried out a rescue mission to save about 30 fish from what they deemed as inhumane conditions. This rescue operation ignited a debate about gentrification in the historically Black neighborhood, as it was perceived by some as a clash between long-time residents and newer, predominantly white residents.
Campbell, a self-described fish enthusiast, expressed her concerns about the well-being of the fish and worked to rehome the rescued ones in tanks inside her apartment. Despite the differing opinions on the project, those involved in the sidewalk experiment believed they were enriching the neighborhood and providing a better life for the goldfish. They fed the fish three times a day, monitored the fire hydrant to ensure a slow trickle of water, and even received donations of decorations and food from supportive community members.
The group behind the aquarium planned to keep the fish in place for about two more weeks before donating them to neighborhood children. The project had brought together a diverse group of visitors, from local grocery workers to wide-eyed toddlers, creating a sense of community and sparking conversations among neighbors. While some voiced concerns about the safety of the fish and the leaking hydrant, others saw the project as a beautiful and lively addition to the cityscape.
As the debate continued to unfold, with city officials expressing safety concerns and residents defending their project, the fish continued to swim in the pool of water next to the fire hydrant. The “Hancock Street Bed-Stuy Aquarium” had become a symbol of creativity, community engagement, and the ongoing dialogue about the changing dynamics of the neighborhood. Whether the fish would find a new home or remain in their sidewalk aquarium, one thing was certain – they had certainly made a splash in the hearts of those who encountered them.
