BRIDGEPORT, CT—Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4) and a group of local leaders on Sunday visited newly reopened Pleasure Beach to highlight the restoration of the 71-acre peninsula that had been inaccessible to the public for almost 20 years. Access to the peninsula was cut off in 1996 when a fire destroyed the bridge that connected it to the mainland. More than 17,000 people have visited Pleasure Beach since it reopened to the public on June 28.
“After being closed for almost two decades, it is wonderful to see so many people coming out to Pleasure Beach to enjoy one of Long Island Sound’s natural jewels. The reopening of Pleasure Beach creates a host of economic and recreational opportunities for Bridgeport’s community that simply were not possible during the years the beach was inaccessible,” Himes said. “The water taxis and the new facilities are investments that will attract more people to Bridgeport and allow the city’s residents to once again have easy access to this beautiful, historic beach.”
Click here to see photos of Himes’ visit and here for a video of Himes discussing Pleasure Beach’s importance to the Bridgeport community.
Himes secured $1.9 million in federal funding in 2009 to establish the water taxi service that ferries visitors from the Fishing Pier on Seaview Avenue to Pleasure Beach. He worked closely with Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch and other local and state officials to reopen the beach and make it accessible to the public.
On Sunday, Himes took a ride on one of two free water taxis to Pleasure Beach to tour the new facilities and improvements on the peninsula. He was joined by State Rep. Charles “Don” Clemons, Bridgeport Councilman James Holloway, and Bridgeport Councilwoman Eneida Martinez-Walker.
Pleasure Beach is now open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. via two water taxis, the 23-passenger Lewis H. Latimer and the 18-passenger Gustave Whitehead. The taxi ride takes just a few minutes. Pleasure Beach’s renovations and new facilities include boardwalks, paved paths, a concession stand and restrooms.
Click here for more information about Pleasure Beach and its history.