Bridgeport Ready To Open Access To Pleasure Beach

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (CBSNewYork) -- Bridgeport's Pleasure Beach has seen better days, but its future may be bright once again.

In the nearly 20 years since the old wooden bridge to Pleasure Beach went up in flames, the one-time amusement park has been caught between dreams of revival and fiscal reality, WCBS 880's Paul Murnane reported.

Replacing the bridge would have been at least an $18 million investment.

The City of Bridgeport has demolished the neglected buildings from the amusement park days and is now ready to open access to Pleasure Beach.

Two water taxis will carry about 40 beachgoers at a time to Pleasure Beach. Limited service is expected to begin later this month, Murnane reported.

There are also plans to preserve wildlife on the peninsula.

"I think it'll be a nice additive to the community, the economy, and everything," one resident said.

Mayor Bill Finch told the Wall Street Journal it was a seven-year effort just to assemble all the funding needed and Pleasure Beach is best as a strip of nature and a barrier island at the mouth of Bridgeport Harbor.

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