Popular makeshift Bed-Stuy aquarium paved over by NYC crews – NBC New York

City workers paved over the popular Bed-Stuy Aquarium, the makeshift pond that once housed dozens of goldfish, angering neighbors and leaving some reminiscing about the community site.

It happened late Thursday near Tompkins Avenue and Hancock Street.

“Everyone is grieving, it has given a community a sense of somewhere we can go, where we belong,” Kossivi Alokovi said.

While Alf Erlandson told News 4: “It's disappointing.”

The handful of fish that survived the ordeal now lie in a bucket on a bench and the missing pond is decorated with flickering candles and bouquets of flowers.

The residents called this place the “Bed Stuy Aquarium.” Bright blue and orange poles painted nearby serve as a reminder of what this community lost late Thursday. Community members who cared for the fish added coral and other decorations over the summer.

In August they told us about a leaking fire hydrant and a sunken area around it made it all possible.

The sudden change came after FDNY members conducted an inspection and later DEP crews did the paving work.

An agency representative cited concerns that the hydrant would freeze and become inoperable this winter.

The spokesperson added: “We look forward to working with community members to find a suitable alternative location for this makeshift gem, including in a community garden half a block away.”

“If the city wants to work with us and move it, I would be very happy. But otherwise they came and murdered all our fish twice in two days,” said Roey Rozen.

Rozen was so upset Friday that he wrote “fish pond” in the wet cement with his finger. Two DEP police officers then arrested him but eventually released him.

Rozen said, “I narrowly avoided arrest, but I understand the city to the extent that you have to follow the rules and guidelines, but things like this bring the community together. I don’t think the city is taking any initiatives on this.”

The FDNY put a lock on the fire hydrant to prevent it from leaking. City officials also say the new concrete is there to ensure pedestrian safety.