Pleasure Beach is back open with a historical walking tour of the peninsula in the East End. Mayor Bill Finch spent part of his Memorial Day at Pleasure Beach with several City Council members and State Rep. Steve Stafstrom. From city Communications Director Brett Broesder:
Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch announced that Pleasure Beach–a 71-acre barrier island off the Long Island Sound that is owned by the City of Bridgeport–is opening to the public at 10:00AM for its first full summer season in 19 years.
Pleasure Beach will be accessible on weekends in May via free water taxi, which will pick beach goers up at the fishing pier located on Seaview Avenue near its intersection with Central Avenue. It will be open seven days a week beginning in June.
“Last year, when Pleasure Beach reopened midsummer, thousands of people discovered the beautiful white sands right here in Bridgeport,” said Mayor Finch. “With it reopening today for the first full summer season in nearly two decades, I invite kids and families in Bridgeport and across the region to come enjoy Pleasure Beach. It’s a little piece of Nantucket right here in the Park City.”
Ø Click here to view photos of the historic walking tour preview: bit.ly/1Hnq8HA.
Ø Click here to view the Pleasure Beach History Tour online: www.bridgeportbettereveryday.com/historical/.
Bridgeport took ownership of Pleasure Beach in 1892. It served as home to a nationally acclaimed amusement park and ballroom for the first half of the 20th< century. But fires and declining visitor numbers put the amusement park out of business in 1966.
The barrier island continued to go from periods of revival and decay until Father’s Day of 1996 when the bridge to Pleasure Beach set ablaze. The bridge was deemed unusable after the fire, and Pleasure Beach remained inaccessible from that point on.
Mayor Finch restored access to the barrier island after nearly two decades of neglect on June 28, 2014. For the two months that Pleasure Beach was open last year, more than 25,000 people visited via free water taxi.
Once again, there should be a state law on the amount of press releases politicians can issue on the exact same topic. Give it a rest, already.
Maria, there actually is a state statute that prohibits the use of municipal funds for promotions of an elected official (I forget the term that is used) within 90 days of an election, including a primary.
This is great news and a sense of pride for the community that resides in the area. Maria, too much good news is painful? Bridgeport needs all the good news it can get. Perhaps you’d like a few more shootings and scandals to dominate the press to make an opposing candidate running for Mayor look more desirable? I’ll take feel-good press any day of the week.
To all of the families of the brave men and woman who have served our country. Thank you. May the fallen all rest in peace and be remembered for their service to our country.
You can take a free water taxi but Frank Sinatra once played Pleasure Beach. Be where he was.
newyork.cbslocal.com/2015/05/23/pleasure-beach-reopens/
Kudos to Mayor Finch for making it happen.
Son of a Beach!
blog.ctnews.com/connecticutpostings/2015/05/25/truck-rolls-off-bpt-boat-ramp/
First of all, the “mayor” just called State Rep. Steve Stafstrom a councilperson.
He also called Councilman Casco, “Councilman Flaco” earlier that day.
BILL, do you even know the people who represent this great city?
So pathetic …
Well, is Councilman Casco, flaco (skinny)?
Everyone is standing as far away from Finch as they possibly can and still be in the frame. Stafstrom looks like he wants to jump behind the nearest “green” bin and hide.
The lack of enthusiasm is perplexing. This entourage should be stoked to be on Bridgetucket with the esteemed Mayor.