Fish Pond Opening Won’T Be On Schedule

The Falls Park Fish Pond will not be ready for fishing by June 5 as had been planned.

It’s not holding water.

Since the pond is designed to be natural, a clay-like substance called bentonite is being used to seal the pond instead of using a more foolproof, less natural substance like concrete, said Dave Fair, city parks and recreation director. But bentonite doesn’t always seal off water leaks on the first try, he explained.

“I don’t see it as anything that’s real surprising,” he said. “Disappointing, yes. You want something to work every time you try it.”

So far, city workers have filled the pond once and once about halfway before a large leak was spotted.

“It’s going to take a number of fillings before it’ll really be set,” Fair said.

Crews are scheduled to work on the pond again in the third and fourth weeks of June.