One of the most beautiful secret treasures on UNC Greensboro’s campus is nestled between the Smith Campus Ministries Center and Walker Avenue Parking Deck. It’s a quiet space save for the soothing sounds of a trickling waterfall spilling into a spacious and sparkling koi pond.
A major restoration in October has breathed new life into the 24-year-old water feature, now clean and colorful with the addition of five koi – a rainbow of colors in deep orange, yellow, white, blue, and green. The green koi, named Koianu Reeves, is the most elusive but easy to spot when the sun glints off his shiny sequins.
UNCG Grounds Supervisor Kevin Siler kicked off the project by building up the waterfall area after a heavy stone was discovered bending the sides of the plastic reservoir, allowing water to spill over on one side. Kevin also removed overgrown and unruly irises, revealing a pond far larger than what it was perceived to be in recent years.
“We were blessed to have the pond cleaned out, revealing white rock lining the bottom and even a shelf running around the outside that we had never seen before,” Kevin says. “It’s nice being able to see the five new koi swimming around in their new home.”
The pond was a labor of love in late 1999 for UNCG Grounds legend Chris Fay, who retired in 2013 after 33 years of service, leaving his mark on many beautification projects across campus. He talked about the pond in a UNCG Institutional Memory Collection oral history interview on Nov. 21, 2017.
https://uncglibraries.com/ohms/render.php?cachefile=OH0002_152.xml (Smith Campus Ministries at 09:45.)
Transcript from 2017 UNCG Institutional Memory Collection oral history interview with Chris Fay:
“Campus Ministries is interesting. The building is actually owned by the Associated Joint Ministries, and it’s built on University land. And so, it’s pretty much private dollars. And they approached me. We’d done something, landscaping for them on the front of the facility. And they were very pleased and happy with what we had done to attract students so that they could come use those services.
“And they asked me about the small courtyard behind the Associated Joint Ministries, which is a very small space. It’s probably not even 50 feet wide. And I studied the area for a bit and went back and gave a presentation to the Associated Joint Ministries Board, asking for funding to build a small pond back there. So, they were all for it. And it’s just a great place to sit and relax. A private space.
“One of the other things I added back at that project is a granite bench. I mentioned earlier about teak benches on campus. Well, granite benches were actually made by saving the granite curbing off of different roadways that were removed during construction projects, Jefferson Street in particular, when they built the baseball field. So it’s kind of a neat thing that we developed that and in-house built these benches.”
Caretakers through the years
Kevin says he became interested in the pond through a co-worker, Jeff Hawkins. “He would make daily rounds to make sure the pump was working properly and the water level was at the optimum level,” Kevin says. “As time went on, I started helping him and before you know it became pretty involved with it. I ended up making a few minor additions to the area by planting a few perennials and installing a white pebble mulch.
“Miss Brenda, who lived in the ministries’ apartment, always came out to chat and wanted to make sure the pond and its fish were OK. Unfortunately, she passed away in 2021, but she is remembered often when I am tending to the area.
“I have built friendships with various folks in and around Associated Campus Ministries over the years, especially Liz Pinson, Director of Operations,” Kevin says. “We have worked together in all aspects of grounds maintenance for the building, and I hope to continue to work with her in the future.”
October 2023 restoration
The pond’s restoration in October had been a long time coming, giving irises time to move in and dominate. Beautiful as they were, they obstructed the view of at least half of the water and had to be pulled. Their removal also revealed the source of an ongoing water retention problem: The liner had been pushed forward and folded over in several low-lying spots, letting water escape under cover of the irises.
Smith Campus Ministries hired Pond Country in Colfax to drain and clean the pond, pressure-wash rocks, install a biofilter and 100 bio balls, and add a net for fall and winter. They treated the water with a “bio bomb” to release beneficial bacteria and added cold-water bacteria and other products to keep the water safe for koi. Water lilies, water garlic, elephant ear and calla lilies were planted.
The restoration uncovered a good amount of beautiful river rock, which is being incorporated into the landscaping.
“Hopefully the pond will be here for years to come so folks can enjoy this hidden gem on campus,” says Kevin. “It’s nice that it is unseen from the outside, making it somewhat of an oasis for folks who do find it. It can really be relaxing listening to the waterfall, drowning out the sounds of all the hustle and bustle of campus.”
All UNCG students, staff, and friends are encouraged to enjoy the pond, directly behind Smith Campus Ministries Center. Seating is available, and picnic tables are nearby. No reservations are necessary; visitors are welcome any time.
