For many pond owners, the journey begins with a simple spark: a desire to create something peaceful, natural, and personal right outside the back door. For Lyle Dundek, a longtime Chicago-area homeowner, that spark grew into a hand-built backyard escape full of personality, neighborhood stories, and a thriving community of 29-cent goldfish that refuse to stop growing.
The Origin: A Love for Nature and a Need for Relaxation
Even before the pond existed, nature played a major role in Lyle’s life. “Within a week of moving into our brand-new house, I planted trees,” he says. “I’ve always liked native plants, natural landscaping. The pond just felt like the next step.”
But money was tight at the time, so the first version of the pond was built conservatively. It worked...until it didn’t. Over the years, the bottom began to cave in, and one day the once-deep pond had shrunk to just 16 inches. This past summer, Lyle decided it was time to do it right.
He dug the entire pond out, reinforced it with cinder blocks and concrete, and rebuilt it, this time a full three feet deep with straight walls. “Now it’s not going anywhere,” he says with a well-earned laugh.
Why Goldfish? A Practical Beginning with a Happy Ending
While many pond owners dive right into koi, Lyle took a more cautious route.
“I didn’t know if I wanted to dump chemicals into a pond, and my friends all told me I’d be pouring money into it just to keep it clean,” he explains. Instead, he bought a handful of 29-cent feeder goldfish to test the waters.
They didn’t just survive. They thrived.
“I started recognizing them individually as they grew. They’ve got more personality than people realize.”
And with a pond between 500 and 1,000 gallons, he eventually decided koi weren’t the right fit. “You hear you need 100 to 200 gallons per koi, and I’m like, nope. This pond belongs to the goldfish.”
Designing the Pond: Natural, Local, and Chicago Through and Through
The pond fits into a tight but intentional space between a sidewalk, patio, and retaining wall. That footprint shaped the design, but the aesthetic vision was all Lyle’s.
He sourced limestone flagstone, locally known as Joliet flagstone, from a regional quarry. “A lot of our historic buildings around here use it. I wanted the pond to look like it belonged in this landscape.”
The boulders? He hunted those down himself.
“We were in new construction, so I spent an entire summer pulling rocks and boulders from empty lots.”
And when he talks about it now, you can hear the pride. “It’s satisfying. You look at the pond and know every piece has a story.”
The Pond Builder’s Journey: Challenges, Help, and a Little Neighborhood Chaos
No pond build is without surprises, especially when utilities are involved.
“The hardest part was avoiding electric, phone, and cable lines. I planned everything, but once we started digging, I kept hitting power lines and had to keep shifting things.” The pond also needed to be perfectly level with the surrounding landscape, which created a mini mechanical engineering project on the fly.
Then there was the liner.
“I had six or eight neighbors helping me get that liner in. I don’t know how people with bigger ponds do it. That thing was heavy.”
But the community effort turned into one of the most memorable parts of the build.
And the dirt? That became its own adventure.
“I asked a neighbor kid to help haul dirt out. He thought it was just for fun—then he invited half a dozen of his friends. They were all out there shoveling dirt into a dumpster for free. When I told them I was actually paying them, they couldn’t believe it. They finished, then went to the gym to do leg day. I basically had The Sandlot in my backyard.”
Living With the Pond: The Calm After the Work
Lyle laughs when people say ponds are relaxing.
“They are relaxing, but after you rebuild one all summer, sitting down to finally enjoy it feels especially good.”
Today, the pond is populated with lush native plants from a nursery he’s supported for decades. He also has water lilies in heavy-duty fabric aqua scaping pots, and seasonal water lettuce and hyacinth that multiply so quickly he’s constantly thinning them out.
It’s become part of his daily rhythm, part of the neighborhood charm, and even part of the local ecosystem. A neighbor was so inspired, she built a pond of her own.
Tips, Tricks, and Things Lyle Wishes He Knew Sooner
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Tip for new pond owners: “Don’t be afraid to start simple. You don’t need expensive fish or chemicals to begin. Build the foundation first.”
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Wish I knew sooner: “Take your time planning the footprint. Reality changes once you hit the ground, and sometimes, utility lines.”
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Products he swears by now: Heavy-duty aquatic planting pots, lilies, hardy native plants, and simple, reliable equipment that doesn’t force you into constant maintenance.
Reflection: What the Pond Means Now
After years of work, rebuilding, and evolution, the pond has become more than a project—it’s a place to breathe.
“It’s satisfying. I get to sit at the edge, look at what I built, and just relax.”
If You’re Considering Building a Pond…
Lyle has one piece of advice:
“Do it. Start small if you need to. You’ll learn, you’ll adapt, and you’ll end up with something that’s uniquely yours.”
What’s Next?
Now that the structure is rebuilt, Lyle’s sights are set on finishing the natural landscaping with native plants, from oaks to prairie species—and continuing to grow the aquatic ecosystem. And of course: tending to the goldfish that started as inexpensive “test fish” but have now become cherished backyard residents.
Equipment:
Filtration & Circulation
Pond Structure & Containment
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EPDM Pond Liner (45-mil) Approx. 15' x 20' (exact size depends on final shape + depth + overlap)
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Wall insultation - was used as the underlayment.
Option : Underlayment / Geotextile Padding - Same footprint as liner -
Cinder Blocks - Used for straight vertical wall reinforcement, Estimated Quantity: 120–160 blocks.
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Cement Mix - For block setting and structural reinforcement. Estimated.: 25–40 bags (60 lb)
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Rebar (Optional but Recommended) - Vertical wall reinforcement
Lyle’s Stone & Hardscape (locally sourced)
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Local Quarry Flagstone (Joliet Flagstone Style) - Pond coping and edge finish Est: Estimated 120–160 sq ft
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Large Accent Boulders - Hand-placed for natural look (varied sizes)
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River Rock - For interior floor and shelf coverage -Estimated. 1,500–2,000 lbs
Spillway & Water Feature
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Small Pond Spillway / Waterfall Weir - Width: 12"–18"
Pond Lighting
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Submersible LED Pond Lights 2 1 light under the waterfall., and 1 accent, using warm white or natural daylight spectrum
Marginal & Aquatic Plants
Floating Plants
Planting Supplies