Backed by a $1 million grant from the U.S. Park Service, city officials announced on Tuesday a new recreational park coming to Downtown along the Pequonnock River on property of the old train station that was destroyed by fire in 1979.
The new green space is being shepherded with the support from Trust For Public Land, under a program called Sliver By The River, a nonprofit organization that creates parks and public green spaces.
The new public space when completed will host community gatherings, food trucks and serve as destination for fishing, kayaking and canoeing.
The federal grant will fund phase one of the recreation component, stage two will address infrastructure to assist flood control, according to Walker Holmes with Trust For Public Land who said project completion will be about a two-year process.
See video above from the announcement.
City news release:
The City of Bridgeport has recently been awarded the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP) grant through the National Park Service; an organization that helps to restore the nation’s lands and waters through locally-led urban restoration and recreation projects while improving equitable access to the outdoors. The City has been awarded over $1 million for Phase I of the Sliver by the River Development Project in which the City will match grant funds, dollar for dollar.
Sliver by the River, located at 5 Stratford Avenue behind the Bridgeport Transit Center, will be a brand new 3.65-acre park that will feature a kayak launch, a floating dock, nature playground, shade pavilion, multi-use open lawn, terraced lawn with seating, benches, and trees along with native plantings that help cool the air while reducing the urban heat island.
Mayor Ganim stated, “I would like to thank our partners at Trust for Public Land and Groundwork Bridgeport for helping us secure grant funding for the ORLP grant. I would also like to thank the National Park Service for awarding us the funding to help begin Phase I of this project. I’m excited to see what will come of Sliver by the River as I remain committed to creating more green spaces in our city and recapturing the waterfront. Our residents will have increased accessibility to spend more time outdoors and enjoy special characteristics that make Bridgeport the city that it is.”
Out of the twelve states that have been awarded the grant, the City of Bridgeport is the only city to be awarded this grant in Connecticut.
where can you actually see a photo ……cant see that board