Rennerdale Volunteer Fire Department is trying to restore its old duck pond.
The fire department in Collier is trying to raise at least $40,000 to rehabilitate the pond, which hasn’t been updated since the late 1990s or early 2000s, said department president Tom Kovach.
The pond’s stagnant water is causing the ecosystem to suffer, and the fire department plans to install a new waterfall and water fountain, and an aerator to support fish and plant life.
“It’ll bring the pond back to life. Our goal is to assist it along and save it before it fills its way in, and we no longer have the pond,” Kovach said.
The fire department owns the pond property, which sits next to its station at 30 Suburban Ave. The pond was donated to the department in the 1950s. Its size is about one-third of an acre.
“The goal is to get it back to its golden days, so the community can come down and enjoy it,” Kovach said.
Kovach and many of his friends grew up fishing at the pond.
“We love it. A lot of people from the community want to come back and know that the duck pond is down here. It’s always been a wonderful thing for the community to have access to,” he said.
In its heyday, the pond was popular for fishing, hosting picnics and other events.
“We had a lot of people down here all the time,” Kovach said.
The department will front some of the money to get started on work, which is scheduled to begin in August, Kovach said.
“We’d love to see more people come down (to the pond,)” Kovach said. “We’re looking forward to hosing more events at the pond.”
