Mike's Pond
A beautiful place of peace and healing
Created in Loving Memory of Michael Hackney
Sunflowers at Mike's Pond
Michael grew up in Erieville and graduated from Morrisville High School in 2009. He attended Mohawk Valley Community College and was enlisted in the Army National Guard in Syracuse. According to his family, he was an avid outdoorsman with a passion for hunting and fishing, as well as connecting with people from all walks of life and sharing his knowledge and experiences with others.
Mike's Pond was built as a way to not only keep Mike's legacy alive but to also provide a space for the community where there is love and light; a soft place to land.
"When Michael died, our world crumbled, and we felt as though we were thrown into a bureaucratic system that was missing love and compassion," said Riposo-Hackney.
The pond serves as more than just a memorial—it's a living testament to Michael's spirit and a gathering place for community healing. Surrounded by natural beauty, the space offers visitors a chance to reflect, meditate, and experience the restorative power of nature.
Michael Hackney
Who is Mike?
Mike Hackney was a young man who lost his life too soon in a tragic accident. Mike was a son, a big brother, a step father, and a friend to many. One of Mike's best traits was his ability to make people feel seen and important. He had a genuine love for people and the outdoors, spending most of his time hunting and fishing. This was the reason he started Mixed Company Outdoors, a company dedicated to sharing outdoor experiences with others. Mixed Company Outdoors is dedicated to sharing the joy of hunting and fishing with everyone and anyone, creating a bond between people who might not have otherwise crossed paths.
What is Mike's Pond:
We have constructed an outdoor memorial that consists of a pond, a trail, and gardens. It is a place where people can come to connect with nature, remember Mike, or take time to honor their loved ones.
What Mike's Pond Has Done Already:
We have hosted annual free learn to fish events for kids for the past four years here at Mike's Pond where parents have the opportunity to bring their children for snacks and a day full of fishing, with volunteers present to help guide them. The pond is open to the community for swimming events, outdoor adventure, and family bonding time.
Future Dreams for Mike's Pond:
Our hope is to provide a space for the community where there is love and light through good times and bad. We would like the pond to be a soft place to land, where people can experience the outdoors in a way that sparks joy in their hearts the same way that it did for Mike throughout his life. Future plans are to continue to expand and host events that will be open to groups both small and large. This project expansion includes stocking the pond with fish, making more trails, planting trees and flowers, and constructing a pavilion.
Support Mike's Pond
If you would like to make a donation in memory of Mike or in memory of your loved one to help towards costs of trails, stocking the pond, trees, etc., please go to:
Community Bank
48 Albany St
Cazenovia, NY 13035
(315) 655-3402
Michael Hackney Memorial Fund
@Mikes-Pond