Murphy, Larson, Himes, Governor Lamont Announce $9.8 Million In Federal Grants To Benefit Municipal Parks In Bridgeport, Bristol, And Stamford

HARTFORD-U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and U.S. Representatives John Larson (D-Conn.-01) and Jim Himes (D-Conn-04) joined Governor Ned Lamont and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to announce that the cities of Bridgeport, Bristol, and Stamford will receive more than $9.8 million in competitive federal funding to benefit four municipal park development projects in each city. The funds are provided through the Land and Water Conservation Fund - Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership grants program (LWCF-ORLP), a nationally competitive program that provides matching grants to cities for park projects in underserved communities.

"Public parks are one of the few places where people in the community can come together, spend time outdoors, and connect with friends and neighbors," said Murphy. "This $9 million in federal funding will help create a new park in Bridgeport and support upgrades to Rockwell, Boccuzzi, and Cummings Parks in Bristol and Stamford, giving Connecticut families more opportunities to enjoy fun outdoor activities like hiking, picnicking, and kayaking for years to come."

"Connecticut families should have access to high-quality parks where they can come together, stay active, and enjoy the outdoors, regardless of where they live," said Blumenthal. "This $9.8 million in federal funding expands access to parks in Bridgeport, Bristol, and Stamford, and I will continue fighting for federal investments to reinvigorate and develop Connecticut's outdoor spaces."

"I am glad to see nearly $2 million coming to Bristol through the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund to make long overdue repairs and improvements to Rockwell Park," said Larson. "This funding will modernize amenities, upgrade facilities, expand park hours, and improve access. I will continue to work with the entire Connecticut delegation and our partners at the state and local levels to secure investments like these that preserve access to outdoor spaces and offer new recreational opportunities for residents."

"Investing in urban parks is a no brainer," said Himes. "They provide places for families to gather and children to play, as well as help improve air quality and lower temperatures in our cities. This nearly $8 million investment will tangibly impact people's lives in Stamford and Bridgeport by transforming these public lands into beautiful, accessible areas of recreation where communities can come together and rejoice in all the outdoors has to offer."

"Great parks and safe outdoor places for our communities enhances the great quality of life we have here in Connecticut," said Lamont. "I thank our Congressional delegation and federal agency partners for their efforts to secure this important funding for our state. This is a great example of federal, state, and local governments working together to accomplish big things for the residents of our state."

Bridgeport receives $1 million for Sliver by the River

Bridgeport is receiving $1,062,454 for its project called Sliver by the River that will transform a vacant lot into a three-acre riverside park. The park will feature a kayak launch, fishing pier, playscape, shade pavilion, terraced lawn with seating, lighting, and native plantings. This is the pilot project for Bridgeport's initiative to create an interconnected series of waterfront parks and amenities along the 22 miles of riverfront area within the city. The city's application was developed through a partnership with the City of Bridgeport and the Trust for Public Land, with initial input and technical support from the National Park Service's Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance group (RTCA).

Bristol receives $1.9 million for Rockwell Park

Bristol is receiving $1,930,000 for long-overdue improvements to modernize Rockwell Park, often considered the crown jewel of the City of Bristol system of parks. Significant renovations have not been made to the park in almost 20 years, and currently many of the facilities incur massive maintenance costs to keep safe for the public. Some facilities are even on the verge of being unusable. With this award, the city will renovate popular and heavily utilized amenities within the 105-acre park, including the splash park, playgrounds, outdoor pool, and bathhouse. The award will also allow for ADA improvements on existing trails and Fraser Field, new basketball court lighting, installation of a new fitness track, and improvements to the existing 18-hole disc golf course. These improvements will modernize existing park amenities, improve visitor experiences and expand park hours and accessibility in Bristol's most heavily visited park.

Stamford receives $6.8 million for Boccuzzi Park, Cummings Park, West Beach

Stamford will receive funding for two separate projects. For improvements to Boccuzzi Park, it will receive $1,811,075. Improvements will include the addition of a splash pad, the creation of a new multi-use field and event space, as well as a new dog park and basketball court. The city will also upgrade its existing children's playground, create additional parking and install new landscaping throughout the park. For improvements at Cummings Park and West Beach, Stamford will receive $5,000,000. The city will resurface and expand parking lots, renovate restrooms and park maintenance facilities, install tennis/pickleball courts, a softball field and convert an unused parking lot into a playscape area. Many of these repairs are needed from damage created by Superstorm Sandy. The city will also add a scour wall to protect facilities from future storms, replace the eroded beach promenade, and renovate outdoor showers as well as a lifeguard storage area. The improvements will also include landscaping with native plants throughout both facilities.

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