The Huckleberry Park pond now has a fountain to keep the pond and its inhabitants healthy.

Hannibal Parks & Recreation maintenance personnel were able to place an aerating fountain in the middle of the pond Monday, in about 15 feet of water.

Aron Lee, Hannibal Parks & Recreation assistant director, said the fountain will help mix oxygen into the water of the pond and allow fish to breathe and process their food. The fountain will also reduce the likelihood of excessive algae growth.

Hundreds of fish were recently released into the pond but it won’t be ready for people to fish until next spring.

The renovated pond was funded with the help of an $184,000 Land and Water Conservation Fund grant. The pond, in the 63-acre park at U.S. 61 and Huckleberry Drive, was leaking water and it had bank erosion and accessibility issues. The pond was drained, excavated and lined with clay. It was widened at its north and the shore was lined with stone rip-rap to control erosion.

A sidewalk was constructed around the pond and a handicap-accessible dock will be installed for people with mobility issues.

Huckleberry Park is the park in the Hannibal park system with the most amenities, including handicap-accessible playground equipment at the playground, a Born Learning Trail around the playground, a big picnic shelter, tennis and pickleball courts, basketball court, softball field with handicap-accessible dugouts, a Ramp Park for scooters, skateboards and bicycles and an 18-hole disc golf course.