Fish Pond at City Hall Could Return

City of La Grange workers recently uncovered the old goldfish pond in the plaza at City Hall.

The long-forgotten water feature was filled with dirt and capped with a concrete lid several decades ago. City Manager Jack Thompson said workers removed the lid and cleaned out the pond while preparing for renovations to the plaza.

The City engaged local architecture firm Cutright and Prihoda to develop a plan for renovating the aging plaza. The roof has been leaking for several years.

“I like the mid-century architecture style,” Thompson said. “It just needs a few things done to make it look nice.”

Thompson said the architects are looking to restore the old water feature as well. Councilwoman Patsy Zbranek, who worked in City Hall for many years before joining the Council, said she remembers when the pond was filled with goldfish.

“One of the workers had to take out the goldfish and clean the pond every so often,” she said.

Zbranek also recalled a prank in which some local youth dumped soap in the pond, which caused it to overflow with bubbles. She said the City capped the pond some time after that incident.