Bridgeport, Connecticut is home to over 12 beautiful parks for residents and visitors to enjoy. From large parks with sports fields and walking trails to smaller neighborhood parks ideal for families, Bridgeport’s parks offer something for everyone.
The parks provide ample opportunities for outdoor recreation, relaxation, and community events. Read on to learn more about 12 fantastic parks in Bridgeport that you should add to your Connecticut bucket list.
Seaside Park
Size: 375 acres
Location: 1 Barnum Dyke, Bridgeport, CT 06604
As one of the largest parks in Bridgeport at 375 acres, Seaside Park has plenty of amenities for recreational enjoyment across its expansive grounds along Long Island Sound. The park features picnic areas, walking paths and trails, sports fields, playgrounds, a splash pad, an animal exhibit with deer, geese and ducks, as well as fishing areas and boat launches.
During the summer months, concerts and events are also held at the park’s outdoor theater. Visitors will also find the historic Fayerweather Island Lighthouse adjacent to the park which offers guided tours seasonally. With plenty of locations throughout the park to cast your fishing line as well as scenic waterfront views, Seaside Park is a beloved destination for both city residents and out-of-town visitors alike.
Pleasure Beach Park
Size: 12 acres
Location: 588 Ocean Terr, Bridgeport, CT 06606
Nestled on a peninsula in Long Island Sound, the 12-acre Pleasure Beach Park feels like a hidden oasis yet is easily accessible for Bridgeport locals. The park features a long sandy beach, concessions, a playground, picnic tables and walking paths. Swimming is allowed when lifeguards are on duty in designated areas.
This family-friendly recreation area also has baseball fields, basketball courts and a skate park catering to sports enthusiasts. Pleasure Beach is a serene spot to enjoy the Long Island Sound shoreline views and cool breezes on a sunny day. Due to prior storm damage, restoration efforts are still underway but much of the park is open to visitors seasonally between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Beardsley Park
Size: 168 acres
Location: 1875 Noble Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06610
Boasting 168 acres just 2 miles north of downtown Bridgeport, Beardsley Park is a beloved green space that offers a zoo, carousel, skating rink, tennis courts, hiking trails and more across its expansive grounds. The park’s trails and paths are popular with walkers, joggers and bikers as they wind through the landscape and offer great views.
The Beardsley Zoo houses over 300 animals representing primarily North and South American species. Other amenities at the park include picnic groves, sports fields, playgrounds, paddleboat rentals on the pond and amusement rides including a carousel. With free admission and parking, Beardsley Park is a great choice for affordable outdoor family fun.
McLevy Green Park
Size: 2 acres
Location: State St between Main St and Lafayette St, Bridgeport, CT 06604
Located right in downtown Bridgeport, the 2-acre McLevy Green Park serves as a venue for numerous community events and gatherings year-round. From summer concert series and screenings to holiday festivals and the Bridgeport Farmers Market on Thursdays during warmer months, locals flock to McLevy Green to connect with neighbors while enjoying arts, music, shopping and more.
Young children can burn energy at the playground while parents relax under the shade trees. Benches, lawns and pathways encircle turf football and soccer fields where patrons can play pickup games or pause to admire the prominent statue of Abraham Lincoln that stands in the center. With dynamic programming and easy accessibility off I-95, McLevy Green Park is the heartbeat of downtown.
Marina Park
Size: 22 acres
Location: 710 Water St, Bridgeport, CT 06604
Offering beautiful views of the Long Island Sound, Marina Park is a 22-acre recreation area along Bridgeport’s waterfront. The family-friendly park features picnic pavilions, walking paths, a playground, splash pad and outdoor fitness equipment. Visitors can launch kayaks, canoes and small non-motorized boats from the shoreline to enjoy scenic paddling.
The park is also home to the Harbor Yard Amphitheater, a live music venue that hosts concerts and performances during warmer months. Year-round indoor attractions found adjacent to Marina Park include the Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, Discovery Museum and Planetarium and Snuff Mill River Center shopping plaza. Visitors traveling to Bridgeport for events at Webster Bank Arena will also find Marina Park conveniently located right next door.
Johnson Oak Park
Size: 1 acre
Location: Main St and James St, Bridgeport CT 06604
Situated next to the historic Johnson Oak tree planted in 1639, Johnson Oak Park packs great amenities into a compact 1-acre neighborhood park. Basketball and tennis courts give youth and adults spaces for play and friendly pickup games. Well-maintained lawns and shade trees offer nice spots to relax or enjoy a picnic.
The park also features an elaborate playground with several climbing structures where parents can observe children at play while sitting on benches. Public facilities, lighting and pathway access also make Johnson Oak Park accommodating for visitors. Events like summer concerts periodically enliven the small green space nestled among the shapely oak trees near downtown.
Read’s Mill Park
Size: 2 acres
Location: Boston Ave & Read St, Bridgeport CT 06608
Read’s Mill Park encompasses 2 acres in Bridgeport’s North End neighborhood. Mature trees populate the park landscape to offer cooling shade during the warmer months. Sports facilities at Read’s Mill Park include basketball courts and a tennis court that see busy play by neighborhood kids and adults.
Families also appreciate the playground area featuring several climbing structures and swings for all ages. Picnic tables situated near the play areas provide convenient seating options for supervising children or gathering for a meal outdoors. As a longstanding community park with lighting and pathway access, Read’s Mill Park is an appreciated outdoor amenity contributing to quality of life for North End residents.
Pembroke Lakes Park
Size: 31 acres
Location: Florida Ave, Bridgeport CT 06610
Located adjacent to the University of Bridgeport campus, the 31-acre Pembroke Lakes Park offers lovely scenic views and amenities for outdoor recreation to East Side residents. Crystal clear Pembroke Lakes stretch through the landscape and reflect the mature trees populating the park grounds. Visitors here can enjoy fishing, walking or jogging along the 1.4-mile trail encircling the west lake.
For small children, playground equipment features several climbing structures and swings. Families often come to Pembroke Lakes Park for birthday parties and gatherings at the picnic grove, taking advantage of available barbecue grills on site. Whether you come to exercise, relax by the peaceful lake or celebrate a special event, Pembroke Lakes Park makes a beautiful setting during any season.
Sylvester Park
Size: .5 acres
Location: Wilkins Ave & Madison Ave, Bridgeport CT 06606
A half-acre neighborhood park located in Bridgeport’s East Side neighborhood, Sylvester Park offers a convenient outdoor recreation space for residents. The focal point is a modern, elaborate playground structure with climbing apparatuses, slides, monkey bars and swings sure to delight young children. With a flooring made from rubber tiles, the playground surface provides for safe play.
Parents can observe their young ones from shaded benches or covered picnic tables conveniently situated nearby. Sylvester Park also features basketball hoops for neighborhood shoot-arounds and a water fountain for refreshing drinks on hot days. The park’s amenities, proximity to homes and lighting access make this pocket park an ideal daily outdoor diversion.
Marquette Park
Size: .8 acres
Location: Brooks St between Greenwood St and Berkshire Ave, Bridgeport CT 06605
At just .8 acres, Marquette Park packs numerous amenities into a compact city plot convenient for Bridgeport’s East Side community. Shady trees offer cooling relief during hot weather and open sightlines for observing children at play. For youth recreation, the park features playground equipment with jungle gym structures, a stand-up spinner, swings and more.
Nearby are basketball hoops for friendly neighborhood shootouts and competitions that often last late into summer evenings. Families can gather at picnic tables or free grills available for cookouts in the park. Benches line pathways providing seating options and accessibility for elders. As longtime city park with lighting, Marquette Park serves area families well for daily outdoor diversions.
Brooklawn Park
Size: 95 acres
Location: 500 Seaview Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06607
The 95-acre Brooklawn Park positioned between Bridgeport’s South End and Black Rock neighborhoods offers ballfields, trails, history and natural beauty along the coastline of Long Island Sound. Baseball and softball diamonds host competitive leagues and tournaments from spring through fall. For recreation, biking and walking trails allow enjoying scenic views of the Little River wetlands and woodlands throughout the park.
The park landscape features rolling hills and terrain with mature shade trees. Historically, Brooklawn Park’s picturesque grounds were once part of Brothers Brooklawn Country Club, a Jewish country club started in the 1920s that hosted famous entertainers like Milton Berle and Danny Kaye before closing several decades ago and becoming city parkland. Today, visitors appreciate Brooklawn Park for its range of amenities appealing to sports enthusiasts, families, walkers, bikers and nature lovers.
Veterans Memorial Park
Size: 6 acres
Location: Park Ave & Broad St, Bridgeport, CT 06604
Formally dedicated as Veterans Memorial Park in 2019, these 6 acres of downtown green space honor Bridgeport natives who served in the nation’s armed forces. Designed as a living tribute, the park grounds memorialize the contributions of veterans through time.
With easily accessible location and serene landscape, Veterans Memorial Park serves as valued city parkland that will continue expanding memorial features into the future while accommodating necessities like public parking space near downtown.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the parks of Bridgeport, Connecticut offer diverse outdoor recreation with something for all interests and ages. From vibrant downtown gathering spaces to scenic waterside parks to sprawling acres boasting zoos, trails and gardens, residents and visitors have ample opportunities to appreciate Bridgeport’s public green spaces.
The parks detailed here represent only a selection as the city continues working toward the goal of having a quality park within a 10-minute walk of all neighborhoods. Whether you live in the area or are planning a trip here, be sure to check out these top-rated Bridgeport parks that make enjoying the outdoors easy and memorable during your stay.