Citizens Campaign for the Environment

CAMPAIGNS

Pleasure Beach / Long Beach West

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!

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Threatened Piping Plovers visit the beach every summer.

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.

Map of Pleasure Beach and Long Beach, CT. 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!

The local and federal governments must take action NOW!

U.S. Representatives Christopher Shays 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, the Mayor of Bridgeport, Bill Finch, and the Mayor of Stratford, James Miron, have publicly supported selling Pleasure Beach and Long Beach respectively. The Stratford Town Council and Congress needs to hear your support for protecting Long Beach forever!

Letter-Writing Tips:

Print your name and address under your signature.
Make sure your letter is clearly legible and in your own words.
Focus your letter on the importance of preserving Pleasure Beach and Long Beach
Tell your Councilmember to sell Long Beach to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Tell your federal representative to fight for federal funding for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to purchase Pleasure Beach and Long Beach.
Ask for a response in writing, informing you how they will address your concerns.

Please send a copy of any response you receive to show email address – it helps us track progress on the issue. Thanks!

Stratford Residents: (Bridgeport scroll down for letter-writing info)

Write to:

Town Council
1. Hon. Michael A. Julian / 35 Third Avenue / Stratford, CT 06615 2. Hon. Alvin O’Neal / 1307 Main Street / Stratford, CT 06615 3. Hon. Gavin B. Forrester, III / 103 Orchard Street / Stratford, CT 06615 4. Hon. Emma Brooks / 223 Roosevelt Avenue / Stratford, CT 06615 5. Hon. John M. Dempsey / 318 Stonybrook Road / Stratford, CT 06614 6. Hon. Amy J. Wanamaker / 185 Freeman Avenue / Stratford, CT 06614 7. Hon. William A. Stroomer / 304 Windsor Avenue / Stratford, CT 06614 8. Hon. Thomas W. Moore / 15 Brinsmayd Avenue / Stratford, CT 06614 9. Hon. Joseph A. Kubic / 1350 James Farm Road / Stratford, CT 06614 10. Hon. Michael F. Hendrick / 165 Brookbend Drive / Stratford, CT 06614	Mayor James R. Miron 2725 Main Street Stratford, CT 06615
	Representative Rosa DeLauro 59 Elm Street New Haven, CT 06510

Bridgeport Residents:

Click here to see a map of city council districts.

Write to:

130	Honorable Brian Crowe 55 Haddon Street, Apt. 3, Bridgeport, CT 06605 Honorable Susan Brannelly 520 Lake Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06605	135	Honorable Richard Bonney 30 Nautilus Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06606 Honorable Warren Blunt 499 Platt Street, Bridgeport, CT 06606
131	Honorable Leticia Colon 140 Yale Street Unit #13, Bridgeport, CT 06605 Honorable Ezequiel Santiago 993 State Street, Bridgeport, CT 06605	136	Honorable Angel dePara Jr. 132 Anson Street, Bridgeport, CT 06606 Honorable Carlos Silva 46 East Thorme Street, Bridgeport, CT 06606
132	Honorable Robert Walsh 56 Redding Place, Bridgeport, CT 06604 Honorable M. Evette Brantley 51 Yale Street #2D, Bridgeport, CT 06605	137	Honorable Maria I. Valle 561 Brooks Street, Bridgeport, CT 06608 Honorable Daniel Martínez 644 Park Street, Unit #8, Bridgeport, CT 06608
133	Honorable Thomas McCarthy 135 Harlem Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06606 Honorable Howard Austin, Sr. 358 McKinley Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06606	138	Honorable Robert P. Curwen 321 Lynne Place, Bridgeport, CT 06610 Honorable Richard M. Paoletto, Jr 119 Greystone Road, Bridgeport, CT 06610
134	Honorable Michelle A. Lyons 91 Jewett Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06606 Honorable AmyMarie Vizzo-Paniccia 565 Goldenrod Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06606	139	Honorable James Holloway 427 Wilmot Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06610 Honorable Andre F. Baker 985 Stratford Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06607
Honorable Bill Finch, Mayor 999 Broad Street, Bridgeport, CT 06604		Honorable Christopher Shays 10 Middle Street, 11th Floor, Bridgeport, CT 06604