Nestled just off South Professor Street between Bibbins Hall and the Central Unit is the beloved koi pond, a staple of the Oberlin community that has served the town for decades. Year round, even when winter arrives and the pond freezes over in beautiful Snowberlin fashion, the koi continue to inspire a serene joy in passersby. This landmark has been integral to the Oberlin experience for many students, faculty, town residents, and visitors. Naturally, many are concerned about its upkeep and the koi’s health.
“Regular maintenance includes skimming the pond of leaves and debris and cleaning the filters for the waterfalls and bubblers to keep plenty of oxygen in the water for the fish,” Becky Bode, ground services manager in facilities operations, wrote in an email to the Review. “This summer, the pond was drained so the accumulated muck at the bottom can be scooped out. Pond muck is decomposing matter of dead leaves, algae, and fish waste, which depletes oxygen in the water.”
Over the past five years, Oberlin has worked with Earth and WaterScapes to implement a series of smaller koi pond changes. These include improved bubblers, the addition of the two characteristic waterfalls, and more consistent maintenance. Earth and WaterScapes also supervises the health of the fish. Most recently, Oberlin students have noticed the new vegetation in the ponds which has received largely positive reception.
“The new plants are more colorful and really brighten up the pond!” College second-year Macy Galloway wrote in an email to the Review. She passes the pond daily, often eating meals by the pond and occasionally feeding the fish. “I think it’s really nice to have [the koi pond] because the building is so gloomy and brutalist. I like the color and life that the pond adds to it. I also feel like the [Conservatory] can sometimes feel dreadful to walk into, but the pond always makes me feel a little better.”
Conservatory second-year Angelo Cresta shared similar sentiments.
“The biggest difference is just that it looks a bit prettier this year with more flowers and greenery,” Cresta wrote in an email to the Review. “I think it’s a great change; the extra color really adds to the vibe. Occasionally, me and some friends will get some Cheerios from Stevie and feed the koi, which is really fun. When I’m by myself, sometimes I’ll write in my journal by the koi pond. It’s a really nice place to sit with my thoughts. Being in the Conservatory, I pass it every day, and it always makes me smile.”
Some students have noted that some of the many baby koi that were in the pond last year have disappeared. Bode reported that those fish have been moved to other ponds to avoid overcrowding. Now, some are even enjoying the pond hidden behind Finney Chapel.
“I love seeing when parents bring their kids to the koi pond and seeing how excited they get to see all the koi and seeing how my own family reacts when they visit and see them,” Cresta wrote. “It’s a really special thing to have that everyone in the town benefits from.”
For many Conservatory students, the koi pond is not just another Oberlin landmark, but a necessary touchstone: a reminder of the beauty of stillness in the midst of the hectic Oberlin lifestyle.
“I think the most important part about having the koi pond is that it’s a nice break from everything that’s going on in the day,” Cresta wrote. “I feel like I almost never have a break with how busy I am, but the koi pond reminds me how lucky I am to be at such a beautiful school, and it provides me a quick few-minute break here and there to journal and relax. It’s always right there; I don’t have to go out of my way to find it.”
