Update: Stratford residents voted two to one to sell Long Beach West for protection as a National Wildlife Refuge. Unfortunately, due to the decline in the real estate market, the contract to buy the land has been terminated. There still remains overwhelming support from the community for both Long Beach West and the adjacent Pleasure Beach in Bridgeport to protect this important coastal resource from development forever.

Now is the time to protect Pleasure Beach and Long Beach, forever!

Pleasure Beach in Bridgeport, CT and Long Beach in Stratford, CT form a 2-mile barrier peninsula on Long Island Sound. The property, a rare, undeveloped, 65-acre tract is located near the Lordship neighborhood of Stratford. Right now, Bridgeport and Stratford are in a unique position to sell the island to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to restore and protect this island for generations to come as a part of Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge!

Background

From 1892 until 1958, Pleasure Beach was the site of an amusement park of the same name. The park was serviced by a ferry and, later, a drawbridge that enabled access to the barrier island. In addition, cottages were built in “Long Beach West.” Currently, roughly 40 abandoned houses remain in the Long Beach West section, abutting the Bridgeport border. In 1996, the wooden drawbridge burnt down and has not been replaced.

Over the years, the peninsula has been a target of many development proposals, ranging from a new Trump amusement park and casino, to a destructive “causeway” road. Fortunately, none succeeded, but a constant threat of development remains. Throughout the region our open space is disappearing at an unprecedented rate. More than 90% of Long Island Sound’s coastline is already developed, making it difficult for the public to access.

Bridgeport and Stratford each have landscaped beach parks for high-intensity use and sports. Neither, however, has an extensive natural, undisturbed beach for the public to enjoy Long Island Sound and learn about wildlife as would be offered by the Pleasure-Long Beach Peninsula. Preserving the peninsula is a rare opportunity for local governments to work with the federal government to preserve and protect 65 acres of waterfront land on the Sound for wildlife to flourish and for the public to enjoy!

U.S. Representatives Jim Himes and Rosa DeLauro have requested that money be set aside in the federal budget in order for the Fish and Wildlife Service to purchase the properties. Additionally, Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch and Strattford Mayor John Harkins, have publicly supported selling Pleasure Beach and Long Beach respectively. CCE is calling on the Bridgeport City Council and Congress for their continued support in protecting Pleasure Beach and Long Beach West forever!

Updated by bferenz 3/23/10