Francisco Gabriel Lopez Fuentes

BRIDGEPORT ROUTES:  Exploring some places

 Written, translated and self-published by: Francisco Gabriel Lopez Fuentes

 English version; Online version
 November, 2024.
 © Copyright 2024 by Francisco Gabriel Lopez Fuentes. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced for sale by persons other than the author. All physical or virtual copies must be consulted with the author.
I am authorizing the Bridgeport History Center to publish this book on its website.

magazinecatedracientifica@gmail.com

 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:  ISBN 979-8-9918307-1-3

 

Bridgeport Routes: Exploring Some Places

Index

Introduction

1. Location and Access
2. Sectorization
3. Environment

 Chapter 1: The proposed routes

Chapter 2: Downtown Bridgeport

1. Train Station. Main entry point to the city.
2. Ferry Station. A Waterway to Long Island.
3. Freeman House. A case of Historical Archaeology.
4. Amphitheater and Arena Stadium. Spaces for Events and Entertainment.
5. McLevy Park and Building. Public Space and Historic Building.
6. Small Memorial Park and view of the Government Center. A Corner of Memory, Respect and a view of historical places.
7. Bridgeport Public Library and Bridgeport History Center. Local History and Knowledge Centre.
8. Housatonic Museum. Art and Culture in the Heart of Bridgeport.
9. Bus Station . Transport and Connections Centre.
10. View of the abandoned industrial buildings of the Enterprise Zone . Perspective of Industrial Archaeology from Knowlton Park on the East Side

Chapter 3: East Side

1. Washington Park. Green and recreational space on the East Side .
2. Industrial Archaeological Remains of the Remington Factory . Vestiges of the Industrial Past and their Significance.
3. Impact of the Steelpoint Project on the South East Side . Urban Transformation and Community Development.

Chapter 4: East End

1. Pleasure Beach. A summer beach on an island.

Chapter 5: Boston Ave – Mill Hill

1. Bridgeport Hospital. The Hospital’s Role in the Community and Its History.

Chapter 6: North Bridgeport

1. Bridgeport Public Library Beardsley Branch and Cumberland Farm. Culture and a short break on the route.
2. Beardsley Zoo. Encounters with Wildlife and their Educational Significance.
3. Beardsley Park and the beautiful view of Bunnells Pond. Recreational Space with Historical Significance, Natural Landscapes and Recreation in the Area.

Chapter 7: Whiskey Hill Reservoir

1. Reservoir Community Farm. Community Agriculture and Local Green Space.

Chapter 8: North End

1. Discovery Science Center and Planetarium. Educational and Astronomical Exploration.
2. Hiking at Veterans Memorial Park. Walks and Nature in a Space of Remembrance.
3. Bridgeport Public Library North Branch. North Bridgeport Knowledge Center.
4. Hiking in Elton Rogers Woodland Park and Hermosa Vista of Lake Forest. Natural Exploration and Opportunities Recreational.

 

Chapter 9: Brooklawn – St Vincent

1. John F. Kennedy Stadium and its impact on Central High School. A stadium next to a school.

Chapter 10: West Side

1. Captain’s Cove Seaport. Shopping and Recreation in the Harbor Area.
2. A tour of Mountain Grove Cemetery Assn. Historical Cemetery Exploration.

Chapter 11: Black Rock

1. Saint Mary’s by the Sea. A beautiful view of the sea.
2. Bridgeport Public Library in Black Rock. Knowledge Center at Black Rock.

 Chapter 12: South End

1. University of Bridgeport and its Library. Exploring the University Campus and its Library.
2. Seaside Park. Recreational Space and Coastal Nature.
3. Fayerweather Island and its Lighthouse. History and View of the Lighthouse on Fayerweather Island.

Prologue

 This is the English version of a book written in Spanish by a Spanish-speaking immigrant in this country. I decided to write this book in Spanish first because I identify with my Hispanic culture, especially with the Latin American one, since my country of origin is Peru. I believe that being bilingual in this country is not only a plus but also a necessity. If we look at the censuses of Bridgeport and many large states in the US, we will notice that Latin Americans and their descendants born here constitute a large majority. This book is not only a tribute to Bridgeport, but this book is also a tribute to my Latin American people.

The first time I came to Bridgeport was on July 26, 2021. I came to Bridgeport just to visit back then. It was a Monday; I still remember that day. Bridgeport struck me with its history, and I felt the urge to one day write a short article or review about this beautiful district. A little more than three years later and against all my personal predictions I managed to write a book in a “marathon” (record time) since the process only took me a month (September 2024). I used my collection of photos that I have on my mobile phone and my memories and personal writings that I have in my personal archive.

All the personal information I have about Bridgeport, CT, consists of countless walks, most of them with Ostin Bernardez. And many of them I did alone. All my walks through Bridgeport started from the day I moved to live in Bridgeport, in December 2021. I previously lived in the Bronx, I feel like I owe an article or book to the Bronx, but I lived there for a short time. I plan to move to Idaho in January 2025. I feel like I will miss Bridgeport. I have very good memories here, for me this is my second home. God bless Bridgeport.

The author

Bridgeport, November 2024.

Acknowledgements

First, I would like to thank God for giving me some wisdom and motivation to be able to make this tribute to Bridgeport. I dedicate this book to God.

I want to thank Ostin Bernardez for his constant motivation and support in the research, data collection and photographs, and for all the support he gave during the creation process of this work.

I would also like to thank Abraham Lima for teaching me about some of Bridgeport’s history, connecting me to the Bridgeport History Center, and funding the purchase of the ISBN.

I would also like to thank Elizabeth Van Tuyl and her assistant Jaime Pettit, both Bridgeport History Center, for providing me with the facilities to review historical information and maps. And for organizing the launch of this book on November 14, 2024.

And finally, I would like to thank all the people I have met in Bridgeport, for whom I could write entire pages. Especially my Spanish-speaking people, they are the hard-working people who, with their work, have made this country a world power. Thanks to those conversations, I have been able to learn more about Bridgeport. Thank you very much.

Introduction

Location and Access

Bridgeport is located within the continental territory of the United States of America. This continental territory is located in the North of the American continent, south of Canada, north of Mexico and between the Pacific (West) and Atlantic (East) Oceans. It should be noted that the United States has island territories in Oceania and the Caribbean.

Bridgeport is located in the state of Connecticut. Connecticut is located on the continental United States, on the east coast near the North Atlantic Ocean. To the north it borders the state of Massachusetts, to the east it borders the state of Rhode Island, to the west it borders the state of New York and to the south it also borders New York, but through a maritime boundary located in Long Island Sound. Long Island Sound is a large marine strait that is formed by the large New York island of Long Island that separates the continental part of the Atlantic Ocean. This makes the marine waters of Connecticut calm. However, rainfall and strong winds make the waters of Long Island Sound sometimes dangerous.

Bridgeport is located in Fairfield County. Fairfield is one of eight counties in Connecticut. This is a coastal county; its beaches are bathed by the waters of Long Island Sound. Among the main cities corresponding to this coastal county are Greenwich, Stamford, Darien, Norwalk, Fairfield, Stratford and Bridgeport. This county borders to the West with the State of New York, to the North it borders both the State of New York and Litchfield County (located in Connecticut), to the East it borders New Haven County (also in Connecticut) and to the South it borders Long Island Sound. It should be noted that in Connecticut there is no political government in the counties. Political power is concentrated in the municipalities and in the state government. And obviously in the federal agencies.

Bridgeport is both a borough (municipality) and a city. It is bordered to the north by the Borough of Trumbull, to the south by Long Island Sound, to the west by the Borough of Fairfield, and to the east by the Borough of Stratford. Political power is concentrated in the mayor and the City Council, as well as in the federal agencies located in the borough.

Culturally and economically, Bridgeport is part of both the New York Metropolitan Area and the New England region. The Metro North train connects Bridgeport to New York City, as does I-95 and the ferry (a boat that connects Bridgeport to Port Jefferson on Long Island). New York culture has influenced Bridgeport. On the other hand, Bridgeport is part of the cultural and economic region known as New England, which corresponds to the states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. This also influences the cultural aspect of Bridgeport.

The approximate geographic coordinates of Bridgeport are 41.0 ^North Latitude and 73.0 ^West Longitude. This means that Bridgeport is located in both the Northern Hemisphere and the Western Hemisphere of planet Earth. These coordinates place Bridgeport on the coast of Long Island Sound in the Northeastern United States.

The UTM coordinates of Bridgeport are approximately 654,000 Meters East and 456,2000 Meters North, in UTM Zone 18 T. These coordinates are useful for georeferencing Bridgeport and thus being able to prepare cartographic and topographic plans.

Bridgeport is included on the United States Geological Survey (USGS) topographic map “Bridgeport, CT.” Thirty-five topographic maps of Bridgeport, CT, from 1891 to 2021, are available for download on the USGS website. Aerial photos of Bridgeport are also available on the USGS website. An easier way (though not for more specific scientific studies) to view maps and aerial photos of Bridgeport is using Google Earth and Google Map and Street View applications.

The average elevation of Bridgeport is 29 feet (9 meters) high. However, there are many different elevations such as the elevation where Beardsley Park and Zoo are located. Many elevations reach approximately 100 feet (30.48 meters) above sea level.

When it comes to access, there are many ways to get to Bridgeport. If you are coming from Boston, you can take the Amtrak train line that goes directly from Boston to Bridgeport. The trip time is approximately a little less than 3 hours. If you drive, you can get there in between 2 hours and 20 minutes and approximately 3 hours. There are many routes to take, and you should choose the best one depending on the traffic conditions. The most important routes are the Interstate 93 S route in the direction of Providence (Rhode Island), changing to Interstate 95 S, which has entrances to Bridgeport. You can use Google Maps or look at the signs on the roads. Another driving route is via Interstate 93 S and in the right lane take exit 16 A towards I 90 W and there take exit 78 (always on the right) towards Interstate 84 towards Hartford CT, then look on the left for exit 57 looking for entering Interstate 91 S, then take exit 17 towards CT 15 S, then take the CT 15 S ramp towards exit 52 towards State Route 8, heading towards State Route 108, use the left lane and take CT 8S, through which there are entrances to Bridgeport.

This Interstate 91 is the best way to get to Bridgeport CT if you are driving from the north, as this road comes from the Canadian border in New Hampshire, passing through Massachusetts and reaching Connecticut, specifically New Haven.

On the other hand, Interstate 95 is the best way to get to Bridgeport if you are coming from the farther south states, as this route comes from the far away state of Florida and reaches the border with Canada.

If you are coming from New York City, the best way is to take the New Haven Line from Grand Central Terminal. The train goes directly from New York City to Bridgeport. The travel time is about two hours. However, Bridgeport is not the final stop, so you should keep an eye out for bus stops. If you are driving, the best way to get to Bridgeport is via Interstate 95. An alternative route in case of heavy traffic on Interstate 95 is to use Merritt Parkway. It all depends on your driving judgment, as Connecticut has alternate avenues and streets to drive on if the other two routes are congested. For example, if you are coming from Westport, you can use Fairfield Avenue. Travel time if you are driving from the Bronx is about one hour if there is not much traffic.

If you want to come from Long Island, you must leave from Port Jefferson and take the ferry that takes the route Port Jefferson – Bridgeport. The trip time is approximately one hour. And the ferry allows you to travel in your vehicle.

Sectorization

Based on my review of the maps, I have divided Bridgeport into eleven sectors or neighborhoods. It is important to understand the sectorization, to be able to georeferenced and become familiar with the tourist routes that I am proposing in this book for Bridgeport.

Each chapter of the book will represent a sector, however, in this part we will mention the sectors with their respective map. The Sectors are the following:

1. Downtown Bridgeport: Downtown, The Hollow and Enterprise Zone.
2. East Side.
3. East End.
4. Boston Ave – Mill Hill.
5. North Bridgeport.
6. Whiskey Hill Reservoir.
7. North End.
8. Brooklawn St Vincent.
9. West Side or West End.
10. Black Rock.
11. South End.

Sector 1: Downtown Bridgeport

For me it consists of three integral parts: Downtown itself, The Hollow and Enterprise Zone. On the route I am proposing The Cathedral Parish corresponds to The The Hollow and abandoned industrial buildings, seen from Knowlton Park on the East Side, are part of the Enterprise Zone. The other locations on the route are part of Downtown proper.

Downtown is bordered to the north (N) by Whiskey Hill Reservoir , to the northwest (NW) by Brooklawn ST Vincent, to the southwest (SW) by West Side , to the south (S) by South End and Long Island Sound , to the southeast (SE) by Long Island Sound and the estuary formed by the mouths of the Pequonnock River and Yellow Mill Pond , to the east (E) by East Side , and in the small northern (N) end near Boston Avenue it borders North Bridgeport.

Satellite image taken from Google Earth.

In the satellite image above, you can see some neighboring neighborhoods such as the East Side. You can also see Interstate 95 (I 95) and the train line where the Metro North (New Haven Line and Grand Central Line) and the Amtrak line pass. There is a small blue symbol with a train figure that marks the location of the Bridgeport Train Station. In addition, I have marked the Pequonnock River with a yellow symbol.

On the following pages are three maps showing Downtown in general, The Hollow specifically, and the Enterprise Zone.

While the Enterprise Zone is part of The Hollow, for educational reasons and to avoid confusion, I am making the Enterprise Zone independent.

In the Enterprise Zone we can clearly see the strategic location of the East Side to be able to observe the remains of the old, abandoned buildings from the industrial era, which are on the banks of the Pequonnock River.

On the map of Downtown, we can clearly see the train line that runs over the river. It is important that you locate the Bridgeport train station since that is where the route I am proposing begins.

We can also see Interstate 95 (I 95) passing over Downtown and crossing the Pequonnock River.

Finally, we can see two bridges on the Downtown map: The largest one is the Stratford Avenue Bridge, and the other one is the Washington Avenue Bridge. The first bridge is to access the Steelpoint project area in the south of the East Side, to access I 95, and to access the East End and the Stratford district. The second bridge is to directly access the East Side. Between both bridges there was a bridge many years ago which is now demolished.

Map of Downtown Bridgeport where you can see that The Hollow and the Enterprise Zone are part of this sector. Source: Google Maps.

 

Map The Hollow where you can see that the Enterprise Zone is part of this sub-sector. For didactic reasons I have separated The Enterprise Zone Hollow. Source: Google Maps.

Map of the Enterprise Zone. It faces the East Side with the Pequonnock River as its boundary. Source: Google Maps.

You need to familiarize yourself with Google Maps so that you can zoom in and out to see street names and more details about areas. This is important to keep in mind all the maps we get from Google Maps in this book.

This is the QR code to locate Downtown on Google Maps.

Google Maps Link:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/EVgTQnVAQbVPZcNG6

Sector 2: East Side

In the above satellite image from Google Earth, you can see the East Side in its entirety. East Side is bordered to the North (N) by North Bridgeport, to the East (E) by Boston Ave – Mill Hill and the East End, to the South (S) by the estuary or mouth of the Pequonnock Rivers and the estuary that forms the Yellow Mill Pond and to the West (W) by Downtown , its western (W) limit being the Pequonnock River . For better georeferencing I share the QR code and link so you can see on Google Maps:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/SUfg1RnhWSiQWKt6

Map of East Side. It can be seen that East Main Street (which runs north-south) is the largest street that serves as a main avenue. You can also see Barnum Avenue which runs east-west and Boston Avenue to the north (N) which appears to have a northwest-southeast (NW-SE) orientation. Source: Google Maps.

Sector 3: East End

This satellite image was taken from Google Earth. By mistake, in the yellow marker of Yellow Mill I put it as a river (River ) but it is not a river, but a pond ( Pond ).

We can see in the image that to the north there is a dark line which is the railway line. I marked the Pequonnock River and the Yellow Mill Pond with yellow symbols. At the Yellow Mill Pond-estuary we can see two bridges. The larger bridge to the north is the Interstate 95 bridge (it is not a bridge in the strict sense of the word, rather it is the track that passes over the river) and the smaller bridge to the south is the Yellow Mill Bridge. And to the south I have marked the historic Pleasure Beach. In the southern part towards the East, we can see a large green area which seems to be connected to Pleasure Beach. This green area corresponds to the territory of the neighboring district of Stratford and is the famous Steward B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge, which is a large wildlife refuge that can be visited for conservation or ecotourism purposes.

East End is bordered to the North (N) by Boston Ave – Mill Hill, to the West (W) by East Side , to the East by the borough of Stratford (with Bruce Creek as the boundary), and to the South (S) by the sea formation that forms Long Island Sound , the estuary or mouth of the Pequonnock River and Old Mill Creek (which forms Yellow Mill Pond) and Bruce Brook (which forms Johnsons Creek). Below is the QR code and link to view East End on Google Maps:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/qpBd44XWkQw496ZA8

Map of East End. You can see two territories that are within Stratford but belong to the East End and Pleasure Beach, which you can access by boat or possibly venturing through the nature reserve located in Stratford. Source: Google Maps.

Sector 4: Boston Avenue – Mill Hill

This sector is bordered to the South (S) by East End , to the East (E) by the Stratford district, to the North (N) and Northwest (NW) by North Bridgeport, and to the West (W) by East Side .

This satellite image from Google Earth shows the boundaries of this sector and the location of Bridgeport Hospital.

On the map on the next page, you can see a large dark-colored road, that is the main avenue called Boston Avenue. Other important avenues are Success Avenue and East Avenue.

If you enter Google Maps application , you can increase or decrease the scale of the map and see the names of streets and avenues in detail.

Detailed map of sector 4 obtained from Google Maps.

QR code and link to view sector 4 on Google Maps:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/kjjEnsEEmo4E8J5T7

Sector 5: North Bridgeport

North Bridgeport is bordered to the North (N) by the Trumbull district, to the East (E) by the Stratford district, to the South (S) by the East Side and Boston Ave – Mill Hill, to the Southwest (SW) by Downtown (Enterprise Zone), and to the West (W) by Reservoir Hill.

QR code and link to view the North Bridgeport map:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/HyyGWBLP9R9NUu8N7

On the map you can see at the western end (W) Beardsley Park (within this the zoo) and Bunnells Pond that serves as a lagoon through which you can see the CT-8 road in winter (or when the leaves of the trees have fallen).

Remington Woods can also be seen and the lake that corresponds to this historic site is Success Lake.

Map of North Bridgeport. You can see East Main Street, Boston Avenue, and Noble Avenue (the large avenue that intersects East Main near the Zoo sign). Source: Google Maps.

Sector 6: Whiskey Hill Reservoir

Sector 6 is bordered to the North (N) by the Trumbull district, to the East (E) by North Bridgeport, to the South (S) by Downtown (Enterprise Zone), to the Southwest (SW) by Brooklawn ST Vincent, and to the West (W) by Noth End.

Map of Sector 6. Source: Google Maps.

QR code and link to access the map:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/6cLK8T1TNZkZ9EUP8

Sector 7: North End

North End is bordered to the North (N) by the Trumbull district, to the East (E) by Reservoir Whiskey Hill, to the South (S) – with a slope to the East (E) – by Brooklawn ST Vincent, and to the West (W) by the Fairfield district.

North End map. Source: Google Maps.

QR code and link to access the map:

´

https://maps.app.goo.gl/MTuVjnjji3FvNrdY7

Sector 8: Brooklawn ST Vincent

This sector is bordered to the North (N) by North End , to the Northeast (NE) by Reservoir Whiskey Hill, to the Southeast (SE) and South (S) by Downtown , only to the South (S) by West Side , and to the West (W) by the Fairfield district.

Map of Sector 8. Source: Google Maps.

QR code and link to access the map:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/M67EXAv8po7skWHe8

Sector 9: West Side

West Side is bordered to the Northeast (NE) by Brooklawn ST Vincent, to the Northwest (NW) by the Fairfield district, to the West (W) by Black Rock, and to the South (S) and Southeast (SE) by South End.

West Side/West End Map. Source: Google Maps.

QR code and link to access the map:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/SGw1i7bZGJmvhk6A8

Sector 10: Black Rock.

Black Rock is bordered to the Northwest (NW) and West (W) by the borough of Fairfield, to the Northeast (NE) and East (E) by the West Side, to the Southeast (SE) by the South End, and to the South (S) by Long Island Sound .

 

Black Rock Map. Source: Google Maps.

QR code and link to access the map:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/6vHs7v25ELHAUA6DA

Sector 11: South End

South End is bordered to the North (N) by Downtown and West Side, to the Northwest (NW) and Southwest (SW) by West Side and Black Rock, to the South (S) by Long Island Sound , and to the East (E) by Downtown.

Sound End map. Source: Google Maps.

QR code and link to access the map:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/gpbd9kEoGKU7y6ct9

Environment

Bridgeport is a city that offers a rich combination of history, geography, topography and biodiversity. We have already provided a detailed overview of the geographic location. Now we will do the same regarding the climate, topographic features, and hydrographic description that define Bridgeport, as well as a very general overview of the flora and fauna,

Climate

Summers are very hot and humid while winters are very cold. Temperatures typically range from -5ºC (23ºF) in winter to 28ºC (82ºF) in summer. Due to climate change, winter conditions may worsen, and it is now a scientific prediction that temperatures will increase each year, so it is expected that from next summer onwards maximum temperatures will exceed 28ºC (82ºF). The warmest month of the year is July, and the coldest month is January.

Bridgeport experiences very strong storms during the summer and fall, and very heavy snowfall in the winter. However, there has been less snowfall in recent years. Perhaps snowfall may decrease further or increase in the coming years.

The clearest period of the day is between late June and early November, while the cloudiest period is between early November and late June. September is the clearest month, while February is the cloudiest month.

The rainiest season is between April and December, with April being the month with the most rainfall. The driest season is between December and April, with January being the month with the least rainfall.

It usually snows in Bridgeport from late November through early April. However, snowfall has decreased considerably in recent years.

It is worth mentioning that all these aspects could vary slightly or drastically in the coming years due to climate change.

During the summer, it gets lighter and dark later. For example, in June, it got light at approximately 5:20 in the morning and dark at approximately 8:20 at night. There are exceptional days when it gets lighter and dark at 9 at night. On the other hand, last winter, it got light at 7:20 in the morning and dark at 4:20 in the afternoon.

June to September is the wettest time of the year, while February is the month with the least humidity.

October through April is the windiest time of year, with January being the windiest month of the year. Strong winds reach a speed of 15.5 kilometers (9.6 miles) per hour.

I recommend visiting Bridgeport between April and November. April and May are the coolest months for walking. September and October are also recommended.

Topographical features

Bridgeport is mostly flat with some low hills. The average elevation of the city is about 30 feet (9 m) above sea level, although some elevated areas, such as the North Hills, reach as high as 250 feet (76.2 m). The terrain in the city center and coastal area is predominantly flat, which has facilitated urban and industrial development.

United topographic map States Geological Survey (USGS), which we will now refer to by its abbreviation in English, I am going to point out some high elevations in Bridgeport, CT. But first, I am going to show you how to access the USGS topographic maps that are freely available online.

First you must enter this QR code that will take you directly to the web link:

Second, you should write Bridgeport to the left of the Magnifying Glass, as shown in the following image:

Third, you must select the Bridgeport CT option. As shown in the following image:

And finally, you must choose the map for the year 2021 according to the list of the 35 maps of Bridgeport, CT, that appear in the options. As shown in the following image:

There are 35 maps of Bridgeport, CT, listed in chronological order according to how old they were made. The oldest dates back to 1891 and the latest as of the date of publication of this book dates back to 2021.

You can download maps using any of the 4 options presented, not all options are compatible with all devices, so I recommend trying all of them if the first one does not download a viewable map.

Another option, if you are not familiar with the virtual world then you should contact the USGS directly and purchase a physical map.

Unfortunately, we cannot publish the physical topographic map of Bridgeport in this book because it is too large physically, its scale is 1:24000, which means that one inch on the map is equivalent to 24,000 inches on the ground (2,000 feet). And in view of the dimensions of the district of Bridgeport, it would be necessary to print a very large map, possibly A0 size (1189 millimeters x 841 millimeters). That is, the length of the map would be a little more than 1 meter or a little more than 46 inches. That is why I suggest that you see the map virtually or alternatively buy the physical map.

Now, returning to the subject of the places with the highest topographic elevation in Bridgeport, I will mention a few, leaving it as an exercise for you to locate them on the map by observing the contour lines. It is necessary to clarify that the magnitudes of the elevations represented by the contour lines are in feet.

The first elevation I suggest looking for is located in Black Rock very close to the sea and is Grover Hill where you can see a pronounced elevation of 50 feet, however, I infer that the maximum elevation at that location is 70 feet due to the two contour lines that continue the 50 foot contour. On coastal maps the contour lines are usually drawn every 10 feet.

Another important elevation is Veterans Memorial Park, located in the North End . There we can see elevations of 250 feet or 76.2 meters (as the main curve) and points that can reach 270 feet (approximately 82 meters).

On the other hand, in North Bridgeport we can see elevations reaching 200 feet (60.96 meters) around Success Lake and Remington Woods, while in Beardsley Park and Zoo the main curve is 100 feet (30.48 meters), with points of 110 feet and 120 feet (approximately 33 to 36 meters) of elevation.

Another area of considerable elevation is at Elton Rogers Woodland Park and Lake Forest. This is located in the North End, very close to Main St. Can you analyze its elevations on the map? I invite you to do so.

Another important topographical feature to highlight is Bridgeport’s soil, which is composed primarily of sand and silts deposited by glaciers during the last Ice Age. The underlying geology is made up of sedimentary rock formations, including sandstones and shales, along with clay and gravel deposits. The presence of glacial deposits has influenced soil fertility and drainage capacity, important aspects for urban development and historic agriculture.

Hydrographic Description

Bridgeport’s rivers, creeks and streams drain primarily into Long Island Sound. We’ve already explained what Long Island Sound is on previous pages. Some creeks and streams drain into lagoons and lakes.

In this brief hydrographic description, I will only mention the most important rivers, streams, lagoons and lakes in Bridgeport according to my criteria.

The first one I’m going to mention is the Pequonnock River. This is the most important river in Bridgeport. The Pequonnock River originates from a pond in Monroe County. The name of that pond would be Stepney. Pond according to a study by the Connecticut State government listed at the following link and QR code:

https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/DEEP/water/IC/watershed_response_plan_for_IC/Appendix614PequonnockRiverCT7105pdf.pdf

However, I believe that a mistake was made in preparing that report as I have not managed to identify a Stepney. Pond on any of the maps I’ve reviewed. Neither on Google Earth, nor on Google Maps, nor on the USGS topographic maps (which are more strictly scientific), I have not bothered to review a sample of the Monroe maps, and I did not find that name for the pond. You can look up maps of Monroe by typing Monroe in the map search engine in the link and QR code I provided on previous pages regarding USGS.

What I have been able to detect is that on Google Maps, Google Earth, and even on the USGS topographic maps, there are some ponds that do not have names. More precise research would have to be done to find out the name of the pond where the river begins. After many hours of reviewing and analyzing in detail the available maps (it took me that time because I wanted to be sure of the error, I detected in the State report), I believe I have identified the location of the pond where the Pequonnock River begins. In this book I will call it Pequonnock Pond. If there really is no name for that pond, I propose that it be called that from now on.

Pequonnock Pond. It is the pond to the left of the star. I used WhatsApp to edit the image, that is, to put the star and indicate where Monroe is and where Newtown is. Source: Google Maps.

When I refer to the source of the Pequonnock River I should refer to the source of the Pequonnock Rivers since there are two: West Branch of the Pequonnock River and Pequonnock River. On that point my research on the maps agrees with the official document of the State of Connecticut.

According to the State study, the West Branch of the river reaches Newtown and then curves back toward Monroe, then joins the other branch further downstream to form a single river. I cannot corroborate this by reading maps; I would have to do some field research, but that would be deviating from the purpose of the book.

Another error I noticed in the State’s study is that it seems to confuse the supposed creek with the area where the two rivers join. It is in the Stepney area (specifically in the Southeast) where the West Branch of the Pequonnock River joins the Pequonnock River. It is necessary to clarify that Stepney is located in Monroe.

Stepney area. Above the star, specifically to its Northeast, you can see the union of the two rivers. To the left you can see the CT-25 road. I used the WhatsApp application to add the star. Source: Google Maps.

The river’s current, although not in a straight direction (as it goes in curves in many places) tends to go down towards the South to flow into Long Island Sound. After passing through the Monroe district, the river passes through the Trumbull district, and then enters Bridgeport at Beardsley Park. And flows into or joins the Long Island Sound estuary south of Bridgeport.

The mouth of the Pequonnock River forms a large marine estuary which forms the port of Bridgeport (Bridgeport Harbor). This estuary is the product of the entry of the sea from Long Island Sound, where the sea waters mix with the mouths of the waters of the Pequonnock River , Yellow Mill Pond and Johnson ‘s Creek .

Yellow Mill Pond appears to be Bridgeport’s second major river that drains into Long Island Sound. However, it is a pond that becomes an estuary when sea level rises. It is Old Mill Creek that drains into this pond.

Johnson’s Creek is an estuary formed by the mouth of Bruce Brook.

Map of the estuary that forms the port of Bridgeport. The Pequonnock River, the small estuary of Yellow Mill Pond and the other small estuary of Johnson ‘s Creek are clearly indicated. The Pequonnock River also forms a small estuary by itself through the train station, the Stratford Avenue Bridge, and the Interstate 95 crossing. It is from this same estuary that the ferry to Port Jefferson departs. This image has been edited by me using the Paint program. Source: Google Maps.

There are a good number of streams, creeks, ponds, lagoons and lakes in Bridgeport. This book is not a hydrographic analysis, so I only mention a few: Rooster River (stream), Lake Forest ( artificial lake ), Bunnell ‘s Pond (a beautiful artificial pond belonging to Beardsley Park and where the Pequonnock River flows in and out , apparently used as a dam for the city’s water), Success Lake (artificially created and the area was used as a weapons warehouse for the Remington company in the 20th century), Stillman Pond (built in the early 19th century for use as a mill owned by a family named Stillman), among others.

Flora and Fauna

Bridgeport has a great diversity of flora and fauna. In this section we will describe some species of plants and animals, but I invite the reader to identify not only those we will mention but also those I have not mentioned to stay within the theme of the book.

American Robin (Turdus Migratorius )

Also known as the American robin (for its reddish-orange breast), American blackbird, spring blackbird, migratory blackbird, or American thrush, it is the state bird of Connecticut. This bird typically measures 25 centimeters (10 inches) and has a wingspan of 43 centimeters (17 inches). These birds feed on earthworms and berries. Jonathan Alderfer (2018) has observed that the incubation of the eggs (which are blue) of this bird lasts between 12 and 14 days and that the babies leave the nest after two weeks of hatching.

The American thrush, although I have seen many, I was not able to take a direct photo. I share the photo by Alderfer (2018:16).

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)

In Bridgeport, you can see a lot of them. They always travel in groups (flocks). They are migratory birds. However, there are people who unfortunately feed them and cause many of these birds to stop migrating, thus distorting the migratory cycle. Adults usually measure 40 inches or 102 centimeters in length. This animal has adapted to the urban way of life and is gradually ceasing to be migratory.

A flock of Canada geese with their young. I took this photo at Knowlton Park on the East Side. However, these birds can be seen all over Bridgeport.

Trees

I have observed many trees such as linden, maple and pine species, there is more variety of species.

Maple species identified at Beardsley Park. I have a collection of photos of the trees, but I may publish them in another book.

Unfortunately, the theme of this book is not flora and fauna. We have only mentioned a sample to familiarize the reader with the routes. I invite readers to identify more species of Bridgeport flora and fauna on their travels.

Chapter 1

Proposed Routes

I propose one route per sector, that is, eleven routes. You can invent your own routes; however, the purpose of this book is to illustrate routes along the routes that I have traveled.

In this part, after a long introduction, we are only going to map the routes so that you can better locate yourself. You will need to use Google Maps application or see the street addresses on street signs or physical maps.

Route 1: Downtown

Point 1: Train Station – This is the starting point of the route, and it’s an ideal place to begin the tour if you arrive in Bridgeport by train. This is the exact address: 525 Water Street, Bridgeport, Connecticut (from now on we’ll put CT for the sake of simplicity), 06604 (That’s the zip code, we’ll put it at the end of each address). When you leave the station, you should walk down Water Street on the East side heading South. Remember that on maps the south is down and the east is to the right. In about a block, at the next corner, below the intersection of the train tracks with Interstate 95, you should turn left. You should follow the street route, and you will be able to enter the Ferry Station.

Point 2: Ferry Station – This is the Ferry Station that transports people and vehicles between Bridgeport and Port Jefferson every day. This is the exact address: 1 Ferry Access Rd, Bridgeport, CT, 06604. Leaving the Ferry Station, you will have to take Ferry Access Rd south to the extension of Main St. At that point you will find yourself at the historic site of Little Liberia. You will enter through Main Street (from now on St) and before reaching the next corner (Whiting Street), you will have to take the … St ) you will see a historic house, that is the Freeman house.

Point 3: Freeman House – This is the historic home of the Freeman sisters. This is the exact address: 358 Main St, Bridgeport, CT, 06604. There is no access to the house at this time so you will have to take pictures of the outside. Hopefully in the future we can encourage tourism by making this house a historic site to visit. After seeing the Freeman house, you should continue to the corner with the Whiting St and turn right onto the respective street. You will walk to the corner at the intersection with Broad St and turn right onto the street. You will have to continue straight, and you will pass under the train tracks. Continuing straight you will reach the next point.

Point 4: Hartford Health Care Amphitheater – That’s the Bridgeport Amphitheater. Here’s the exact address: 500 Broad St, Bridgeport, CT, 06604. I suggest visiting the website (google it) for the amphitheater and calling to try to get a way in and take pictures inside. If that’s not possible, the exterior of the anti-theater is an architectural work of art. You’ll be able to take some great photos. And continuing straight ahead, to the side of the amphitheater, is the next point.

Point 5: Total Mortgage Arena. – That is the Arena stadium. This is the exact address: 600 Main St, Bridgeport, CT, 06604. I also suggest visiting the website or, failing that, venturing in and entering, always asking permission from the security staff. The exterior is also nice for taking good photos. Leaving the stadium, you should cross under Interstate 95 and you will reach N Frontage Road (Abbreviated: Rd), turn left by entering Main Street. St, and that is where you will find the next point.

Point 6: Barnum Museum. – It is the Barnum Museum. This is the exact address: 820 Main St, Bridgeport, CT, 06604. The museum has been closed for renovations in recent years, but you can check the website and call for information. Hopefully, when you do the routes in my book, the museum will be open to the public. After passing the museum, you should continue straight ahead (don’t go back from where you came) and on the corner you will find a Subway and a park. You can stop and enjoy a delicious sandwich. The park is the next stop.

Point 7: Mc Levy Green Park. – This is Mc Levy Green Park. This is the reference address of the park: 102 Bank St, Bridgeport, CT, 06604. Sometimes, usually in the summer and spring, there are events and product fairs in that park. You must enter the State St , heading Southwest and you will reach the next point on the corner with Broad, St.

Point 8: Mc Levy Green Building – This is the Mc Levy Green building. This is the address: 202 State Street St, Bridgeport, CT, 06604. And at that same corner there is a small park which is the next point.

 

Point 9: Memorial Park – This is the park in memory of those who fell in war. Then you should cross the track to the left along Broad St and you will reach the next point.

Point 10: Bridgeport Public Library Main Branch – This is the Main Library in Bridgeport. You should check the times on the website. The exact address is: 925 Broad St, Bridgeport, CT, 06604. To get to the next point you just have to go up to the third floor of the library.

Point 11: Bridgeport History Center – This is Bridgeport’s historical research center. This year, 2024, they are open Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays (Saturdays by appointment) during Library business hours. You can call as part of your planning. When you leave the point and the library, you will continue walking south on Broad St until you reach the next point.

Point 12: Housatonic Museum. – This is the Housatonic Community College Museum. I suggest visiting the website to register. better your visit. The reference address to enter the museum is: 875 Broad St, Bridgeport, CT, 06604. You can take advantage of additionally visiting the College facilities. Leaving the College, if you leave through the same entrance that you entered through Broad St, then you will go back and walk north along Broad St until you reach the corner with State St. St and turn left. Then you will walk along State Street. St heading Southwest to the next corner which is the intersection with Lafayette Blvd. On the way down State St, in the same building where the library is located, if you are lucky you will find a place where they sell old books at auction prices, you will find books between 1 to 3 US dollars. Many books have a market value of more than 50 or 100 dollars, and you will find them at the price of 1 dollar. Unfortunately, this fair is only open once or twice a week. It is a help for people with low economic resources who study and want to improve their educational level. Most of the books are written in English, but there are a few books in Spanish, Chinese, and other languages. You can find books of all reading genres, from philosophy, history, economics, etc., to mathematics, English, specialized books, children’s books, gardening, religious books, etc. On the other hand, if you leave through other exits of the College, I suggest using your map and returning to the library door. And from there follow the route I am providing. Already on the corner of State St with Lafayette Blvd you will turn right and enter Lafayette Blvd and you will continue straight until you reach the corner with John St , and you will continue straight along the same Lafayette Blvd , that part of the road is curved, then you will continue straight passing by Cannon St , and you will continue straight along the same Lafayette Blvd , you will continue straight passing by some streets that intersect Lafayette Blvd until you reach Golden Hill St. On that corner is a beautiful church called Golden Hill United Methodist Church. See if you can go inside. Anyway, the exterior architecture of that Church is spectacular. On that corner you will see a park that you can explore if you like, however, you will continue straight along Lafayette Blvd and you will cross a bridge that passes over the CT – 8 road (It is a road that tends towards the NE – SW direction going and coming towards Shelton , but its general tendency is N – S reaching the border with the State of Massachusetts near the West side of Colebrook River Lake). After crossing the bridge, you will arrive at Washington Avenue (abbreviated Ave) and on that same corner you will see the following point.

Point 13: The Cathedral Parish – This is the St Augustine Cathedral Parish. The exact address is 399 Washington Ave, Bridgeport, CT, 06604. I suggest visiting the website to better plan your visit.

Tour of the streets of Downtown – Departing from The Cathedral Parish you will turn around and cross the bridge that goes over the CT -8, and continuing along Lafayette Blvd you will turn left onto Golden Hill St (Right on the corner with the Methodist Church), continuing straight past the corner with Lyon Terrace but continuing on Golden Hill St , you can find an open art gallery (enter if you can) and continuing straight on Golden Hill St , you will see a large staircase built in a beautiful landscape style, on the first flight of stairs you will see an access to the Downtown Cabaret Theatre (you can visit the website). When you have gone down the entire staircase you will arrive at the corner of Broad St with Elm St , you will continue straight on Broad St , and at the corner with Fairfield Ave, you will turn left heading East. At that corner there is a park, you can see what is there. Continuing along Fairfield Ave you will reach the corner with Main St. What you will do now may be to increase the walking time, however, you will be able to see the architecture of Downtown and you will be stepping on places where hundreds of years ago the indigenous people buried their dead. You will turn right and walk along Main St. St to Mc Levy Green Park and then you will return to the same corner with Fairfield Ave, but, you will continue straight along the same Main St at Majestic Park (1471 Main St ) and then you will return towards Mc Levy Park but before getting there on the corner of Main St with John St (where there is currently a Dunkin Donuts and an Asian food restaurant) you will turn left onto John St , heading to the next corner with Middle St. At that corner you will turn left entering Middle St and continue straight until Golden Hill St. At the corner between Middle St and Golden Hill St, you will turn right entering Golden Hill St and straight ahead you will be able to see the next point.

Point 14: Bus Station – This is the bus station. The address is: 710 Water St, Bridgeport, CT, 06604. You will first enter the station building and then go to the bus stop. You will take a line that will take you to Washington Park on the East Side. I usually walk and don’t take the bus. But you can take the bus if you don’t know the area. I suggest taking the 6 lines (which goes to Noble Ave). Keep in mind that my suggestion is for this time. There may be changes in bus routes in the future. That’s why it’s important to look for information on the Web or ask the workers or people. Once in Washington Park on the East Side you will look for Barnum Ave and head west (like going to the river) towards Knowlton. St and at that corner you will turn right. Three corners further on you will see the next point.

Point 15: Knowlton Park – This is the park where you will see the abandoned industrial buildings. The reference address is: 405 Knowlton St, Bridgeport, CT, 06608. This is the last point on Route 1. I suggest you make this last point if you are confident enough to walk on the East Side. I have lived on the East Side for almost 3 years of my life, and I almost always walk downtown on that route and nothing bad has ever happened to me. However, not everyone is the same. I suggest doing some research first. I also suggest being very careful when crossing the tracks, as some drivers go very fast.

Back to the station. – I don’t know if there are more people besides me who can do route 1 on the same day. However, assuming that you will take route 1 in one day, I will tell you how to return. You must take the bus to the bus station (You can return to Washington Park or take the bus on Noble Ave. I suggest using Google Maps to see the bus stops near where you are. Once at the bus station you will walk along Waterfront Park. St heading South, you will either cross the large track on Fairfield Ave or go through a pedestrian path that goes directly to the train station. Before you get to the train station there is a dock where you can go to see the Pequonnock River estuary. If you are going to Boston or New Haven, there are stairs right there to go to the station. Sometimes the train track changes, and it may be in front so you should ask and look at the warning screens. If you are going to New York City, you can take the same stairs and inside the station track there is very nice access that goes through an underground and you can walk through that underground to the track in front, where the main building is.

Route 2: East Side

Recommendations: Do routes 2, 3 and if possible 4 on the same day. You must be very careful when walking and the route must be done during the day, do not wait until it gets dark. Nothing bad has ever happened to me there, but it is important to be safe. I suggest that you dress simply and walk with confidence and without fear, since fear can bring problems.

Point 1: Washington Park. – In the last point of route 1 I indicated how to get there. You should look for Barnum Ave in the same park, but this time you should turn right heading East. You will pass by East Main St and on the same corner you will find a Subway where you can eat something to get energy for the walk. You will continue straight on Barnum Ave until the intersection with Helen St where you will be able to see the Remington Tower. I suggest you watch the Bridgeport documentary. You will enter Helen St turning left heading North until the next corner. From there you will be able to see the next point.

Point 2: Remington – As you can see in the documentary video I made about Bridgeport, much of the remains of the factory have been destroyed. Personally, I think that was a waste since with a good financial investment that site could have been converted into an industrial archaeological site. In the year that I am writing this book, the old tower still stands. You should go to the corner of Helen St with Artic St. If possible, you can take advantage of visiting the old Augustinian cemetery. Then, you will return along Helen St and go back to Barnum Ave and turn right (like returning from where you came). At the corner of Barnum Ave with Hallett St you will turn left, crossing Barnum Ave, you will enter Hallett St. You should walk straight along Hallett St. St (you will pass under the train line) and you will reach the corner with Church St. At that corner you will turn left entering Church St. St until you reach the corner with Waterview Ave. At that corner you will enter Water View Park and you will be able to observe the natural landscape of the Yellow Mill Pond. It is in that area, exactly the corner of Waterview Ave with Crescent Ave (where the train line passes), where the Old Mill Creek flows into the Yellow Mill Pond. Then, you will return to the corner of Church St with Waterview Ave and you will walk down Waterview Ave heading South. You will walk straight ahead and you will come to East Side Park. That is at the intersection of Goodwin St and Waterview Ave. You can make another stop at that park. Then continue the same path heading South on Waterview Ave until you reach the corner with Bass Pro Doctor , that is almost right under Interstate 95. That is where you will see the next point.

Point 3: Steelpoint – You will continue walking along Bass Pro Doctor. You can enter Bass Pro Shops to shop or Uncle Buck’s Fish to eat and play bowling and other entertainment games that are there. When you reach the corner of Bass Pro Doctor and East Main Street, you will be greeted by a large crowd of people. St you will have finished route 2. If you no longer want to continue route 3 then you can take the bus at a nearby stop which is under the Interstate 95 bridge, I suggest looking at Google Maps, there you can see the bus schedules and which bus goes to Downtown . You can also walk to the train station or the bus station. Walk along East Main St heading south reaching the corner with Stratford Ave, turn right heading West, and continue straight on Stratford Ave. You will cross the Stratford Ave bridge and arrive at the station.

Route 3: East End

Point 1: Steelpoint – If you are not continuing the same day with route 2, then you will need to take a bus to the East Main bus stop. St I-95, you will probably take the line 9 bus. That stop is under Interstate 95 (hereafter: I-95). After getting off the bus (or continuing along the route above) you will walk south towards Stratford Ave and turn left. Continue straight on Stratford Ave and cross the Yellow Mill Bridge. You will turn right (southeast) onto Seaview Ave and continue straight until you reach the intersection with Jefferson St. At that corner you will see the following point.

Point 2: Newfield Park – You will skirt the park and enter at your discretion. Leaving the park you will return to the corner of Seaview Ave and Jefferson St. At that corner you will re-enter Seaview Ave and continue heading South. You will pass Adams St, Deforest Ave, but continue straight on Seaview Ave. When you reach the corner of Seaview Ave and Central Ave you will be able to see the starting point for Pleasure Beach.

Point 3: Pleasure Beach – You will need to board the Water Taxi at the corner of Central Ave and Seaview Ave, entering a dock. The Water Taxi service is free. But it is only open on weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) during the months of July and August. The Water Taxi leaves the dock every 20 minutes. The first departure date is at 10 am and the last at 4 pm. On the return from Pleasure Beach the Water Taxi also leaves every 20 minutes, but the last return Water Taxi leaves at 6 pm. You should visit the following website for more information:

https://www.bridgeportct.gov/government/departments/parks-recreation/pleasure-beach

It will be a very interesting experience for you. Because Pleasure Beach is not only a place of recreation, but it is also a historical place.

Water Taxi access map. The green arrow indicates the dock where you will board. Source: Google Maps.

You will need to be alert and follow the directions for the last Water Taxi leaving Pleasure Beach otherwise you will be stuck on the island until the next day as there is no other easy way out. When you are back on Central Ave you will need to look for a bus stop to return to where you come from, or continue on the next route.

Route 4: Bridgeport Hospital

If you are continuing the route from the previous route you will have to walk along Central Ave, heading North until you reach the intersection of Central Ave and Barnum Ave. From there you will be able to see the Bridgeport Hospital. If you are starting your walk with route 4 you will have to take a bus to Barnum Ave at Central Ave stop. The bus will drop you off at the corner. From that corner you will enter Barnum Ave, heading East towards Mill Hill Ave and you will turn left onto Mill Hill Ave. You will continue straight until you reach the corner with Grant St. You will turn left, and you will find a small oval (267 Grand St) which is the main entrance to the hospital. You can take pictures. If you want to take a blood sample to check your health, you can take advantage of it or else you already know how to get there another time.

Route 5: North Bridgeport

The previous route was so short that it will serve as a warm-up for what is to come. You can use this route to end a day of sightseeing or to start a day of sightseeing.

Point 1: If you are going to start as the first route of the day, the route 5, then you must go or take a bus to the Bridgeport Public Library Beardsley Branch stop, the exact address being 2536 East Main Street, Bridgeport, CT, 06610. If you are going to continue from the hospital route, then you must walk to Boston Ave, then go to the corner of Boston Ave and East Main Street, and then turn right heading North and go to the indicated address.

Point 2: Leaving the Library, you can stop by Cumberland Farms to buy drinks and sandwiches for lunch or breakfast. Cumberland is across the street from the Library on East Main Street.

Point 3: You will leave Cumberland Farms and walk along Noble Ave in a roughly southwesterly direction. You will continue straight ahead (or rather, in a curve, since the path is a curve) passing Waverly Pl, and several corners (such as Edna Ave). Passing the intersection with Edna Ave and before reaching Crown St there is a path that goes to the Beardsley Zoo and the park of the same name.

Access to the Zoo. The green arrow indicates the access road. You can see the Bunnells Pond in front of the Zoo.

Point 4: Leaving the Zoo, you will turn right, you will not go back south, but you will go north along the Beardsley Park trail circuit. You will have to be creative and watch the trails. At the end you will have to return to the Zoo and see the beautiful view of the Bunnells. Pond.

Beardsley Park Loop. At the northern end of the loop, just off CT-8 (which branches off CT-25), is the boundary between Trumbull and Bridgeport.

Route 6: Whiskey Hill Reservoir

That is a much shorter route than route 4. You will only need to take one bus to go to the community farm. The bus that goes close to that address is bus 6. From the bus stop you will need to get to the address 1469 Reservoir Ave, Bridgeport, CT, 06606. The place is the Reservoir Community Farm. The farm is open Tuesday through Saturday mornings. You’ll need to check online to see if there are any changes.

Route 7: North End

Point 1: Discovery Science Center and Planetarium and Veterans Memorial Park. – You will need to take the 4 bus that leaves from Downtown. The address is 4450 Park Ave, Bridgeport, CT, 06604. You will need to pay an entrance fee to enter. You can do some research on the internet. If you have time, you can also take advantage of the opportunity to enter The Adventure Park. Leaving the museum, you will need to find the entrance to Veterans Memorial Park and go hiking. The park is not very big. You will need to use your wits to follow the tree lines and exit towards Madison Ave, near the fire department. Then, turning left towards North, you will enter Madison Ave and continue straight until you reach the next point.

Point 2: Bridgeport Public Library North Branch. – You should check the library’s opening hours online. The exact address is 3455 Madison Ave, Bridgeport, CT, 06606. Leaving the library, you can take advantage of visiting Puglio Park and then return to the library point. Then from the corner of Madison Ave with Indian Field Rd , you will enter straight ahead heading East. At the corner of Indian Field Rd with Anton Dr. you will turn right heading South entering Anton Dr. You will continue straight on Anton Dr and you will reach the corner of Anton Dr with Anton St. At that corner you will turn left entering Anton St and continue straight until you reach Main St. At the intersection of Anton St with Main St you will turn left and continue straight on Main St heading North. When you reach the corner of Main St. St with Kaechele Pl, you are going to enter through Kaechele Pl and go to look for the entrance to the next point. There are many almost secret entrances to the park, but you must be careful not to enter private property. One of the entrances is at 530 Frenchtown Rd. However, I suggest entering through a narrow entrance on Kaechele Pl and exit at 530 Frenchtown Rd.

Point 3: Elton Rogers Woodland Park and Lake Forest – This is the last point on the route. But there are trails inside the park. It is a large park with paths that look like labyrinths. After hiking through the park, you can look for the Lake Forest Association. The reference address is 424 Frenchtown Rd, Bridgeport, CT, 06606. You can search for it online and coordinate a visit and enter the lake. The lake is private property so to enter you must coordinate with the association. Then you must return to Main Street. St and take the bus back from where it came from.

Route 8: Brooklawn-St Vincent

This is another short route. I suggest it as a first or last route of the day. You will need to take a bus that will take you close to Central High School. The exact address is: 1 Lincoln Blvd, Bridgeport, CT, 06606. I suggest calling the school to see if you can visit the facilities. You can take advantage of visiting John F. Kennedy Stadium and Brown Memorial Park and Beechwood Park.

Route 9: West Side

In Bridgeport there are many lines that go through Fairfield Ave and State Ave. You will have to go to the intersection of these two avenues. At that intersection is West End Park. You can take advantage of visiting that small park. Then you will enter Silliman Ave. You will find that avenue crossing Fairfield Ave. You will continue straight on Silliman Ave, and you will reach the intersection with Ash St, and you will turn right entering Ash St. You will continue straight on Ash St and when you reach Mountain Grove St you will turn left until you reach Dewey St. There you will have arrived at the first point.

Point 1: Mountain Grove Cemetery Assn.- At the corner of Mountain Grove St and Dewey St you will be able to see the cemetery and look for the entrance. Another way to enter is to walk along the edge of the cemetery and enter through the access that is at the following address: 2675 North Ave, Bridgeport, CT, 06604. There is also a bus that goes directly there. The bus stop is called Mountain Grove Cemetery and is currently on line 10 bus. The bus stop in front is called 2710 North Ave and is on the same 10 line. After exiting your visit to the cemetery, you will go to the West End Park that I mentioned at the beginning and this time you will cross in front of the State St and you will enter Bostwick Ave. You will continue straight. You will pass under both the train line and I-95. When you pass West Side Park II you can take advantage of visiting the park and seeing the culture post-industrial area. Although there are still some industries preserved in that area. When you see the sea (estuary) you will already be at the next point.

Point 2: Captain´s Cove Seaport – The reference address is 1 Bostwick Ave, Bridgeport, CT, 06605. It is a good place to have lunch or dinner. It is usually open until 1 am. In the afternoon you can listen to live music. If you stay out too late, I suggest you call a taxi or find a private vehicle to leave. But if the sky is not dark yet, you can return by the route you came.

Route 10: Black Rock

If you are starting your day with this route: Fairfield Ave. – You will get off at Fairfield Ave at Gilman bus stop. St or at the Fairfield Ave at Fox St stop (which is the stop that is almost in front of the first stop). Currently, the CL route is the one that stops at that stop. At the corner of Fairfield Ave and Gillman St you will enter Gilman St. St heading south. You will continue straight on Gilman St, you will walk several blocks, and you may even be at Ash Creek, which looks like a river, but it is an estuary formed by the inflow of the sea and the mouth of Ash Creek. You will arrive at where Gilman St ends. There you will see Capozzi Park and you will be able to see the next point.

If you are going to continue after Route 9: You will not go back along Bostwick Ave, you will continue straight and you will find an exit towards Yacht St. You will enter that street. Then you will continue straight, and you will turn right onto Harbor Ave. When you reach the corner of Harbor Ave and Thurston St you will turn left onto Thurston St. At the corner of Thurston St and Ellsworth St you will turn right onto Ellsworth St. At the intersection of Ellsworth St and Fairfield Ave you will turn left onto Fairfield Ave. Walking along Fairfield Ave you will have to reach the corner with Gillman St. Then you will follow the route described in the previous paragraph.

Point 1: Saint Mary’s by the Sea. – You can walk all the way around that point and enter the Eames Blvd. Then you will continue along Grovers Avenue until you reach Brewster Street and then you will turn left towards Fairfield Avenue (You can also turn right and visit Ellsworth Park and then turn back). At the corner of Fairfield Ave you will turn right until you reach the intersection of Fairfield Ave and Melrose Ave. There you will be at the next point.

 

Point 2: Black Rock Library – This is the Black Rock Library. The exact address is 2705 Fairfield Ave, Bridgeport, CT, 06605.

Route 11: South End

I suggest that you do this tour in one day. You should start early in the morning because the sea must be low to enter the island. You will have to take a bus to the University of Bridgeport. That will be your first stop.

Point 1: University of Bridgeport. – I suggest that you visit for an hour (or less) and early in the morning. After returning from the last point of this route you can go back and read the books in the library or explore the University further. The exact address is: 126 Park Ave. The University is usually open Monday through Friday from 8:30 am. In summer it is usually closed, but in the second week of August it is already open. Likewise, in the month of May. If it is closed when you go, you can visit the university’s outdoor facilities or check on the web to see if the library is open. After leaving the university you will continue straight on Park Ave northeast towards the sea. About a block away you will be able to see the Triumphal Arch and that is the entrance to the next point.

Point 2: Seaside Park – If you are going to the last point, I suggest doing this quick tour. You will travel all these route lines that I show on the following map.

Map of part of Seaside Park. The flag is my own and indicates the continuation of the trail. Source: Google Maps.

After going through the entire circuit at your own discretion, you will reach the point that has been marked with a white flag by me. And continue along Soundview Dr heading West as follows:

Map of the trail from Seaside Park to Fayerweather Island. The arrow was placed by me. Source: Google Maps.

Point 3: Fayerweather Island and its lighthouse. – It is necessary to clarify that if you are not used to walking on mounds of rocks, do not do this point of the route and stay in Seaside Park for your safety. Wear sneakers or shoes that are not slippery. Start entering the island before noon. If you do it at 10 am or 11 am it would be better. If you do it at noon, you should do this tour quickly. That is my suggestion. Do not enter the island if it is rainy or very foggy because you can slip. Use sunscreen and have drinks on hand. You will arrive at this last point of all the Bridgeport routes shown in this book according to the following map:

Map of the access to Fayerweather Island and its lighthouse. The green arrow is my place. The black dot indicates the location of the stone cairns (stone breakwaters or jetty) that you will have to climb to reach the island. Source: Google Maps.

If you do not feel safe climbing the stone jetty, do not do so. Insecurity can cause an accident and if you do not know how to swim, you could have serious problems.

On the other hand, this is a beautiful and, for me, romantic island. Great to go with your partner or friends, even if it’s just for tourism.