Pleasure Beach, a mini documentary

A short mini documentary of Pleasure Beach, a small beach community located on the border of Bridgeport and Stratford Connecticut.
Text comes from the wikipedia entry: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleasure...
Photos and video are my own, with exception of two ariel shots.
Music is from the PC Game, Myst.
NOTE: i am not making any money off of this video, it was just something to do in my spare time.

[@shamrox513]

I grew up in Port Jefferson, across the sound from Bridgeport. I always thought I was 4 years old when me and my family took the ferry to Pleasure Beach, but this documentary says it closed in '58, so I must have only been 3. Anyway, while there, I got separated from my family and stood crying. A boy, who I would guess to be around 14 or 15, stopped on his bike and asked "are you lost, little girl?" I shook my head yes and he took me to the park's office. An announcement was made that a little lost girl had been found and my mother rushed to come for me. She wished she could have thanked the boy who helped me, but he had left once I was in safe hands. She bought a roll of tickets and asked the people in the office to please, if they saw him again, to give them to him. As many long years ago as this was, I never forgot it....the fear of being lost in an unfamiliar and crowded place and then the kindness of this young man. I can still see him...he had on shorts, he wore glasses and was riding and English Racer. I often wondered what ever happened to him.

[@HappyJeanne]

I remember when they had the wing dings there and the rides...thanks for sharing this video. Very sad to see it this way when it was so full of life.

[@Snookie0523]

I spent my summers there in 60's. It was beautiful. Lovely homes with wonderful families. It breaks my heart to see what happened. So sad.

[@briangodwin3665]

Yes I did t

[@briangodwin3665]

I and my family did go over there many times and it was beautiful

[@rebeccadickinson9035]

Part of my childhood gone forever! My Maternal Aunt & husband my Uncle owned one of the cottages on Pleasure Beach & I spent countless summers there with my mom & aunt!

[@rebeccadickinson9035]

My family owned one of these cottages from the 1960s/1970s right up until the Pleasure Beach Bridge burned down & became impassable & the cottages were only accessible via private boats (hence abandoned to rot)! I spent countless summers there as a kid! The best childhood memories were spent at our cottage! If Bridgeport or Stratford didn’t “eminent domain” them after the bridge burned down I think that they’d still be up & standing (albeit with vandalism & graffiti)! Now Pleasure Beach (on the Stratford side where the cottages stood) is a wildlife preserve! I can still visualize & smell the neighborhood & my cottage with its narrow green carpeted circular staircase & the movable bar in the dining room/area & the antique TV set in the living room! I also remember taking showers in the outdoor shower so that I didn’t bring sand & such into the house! I also remember reading on the upstairs porch area on the roof taking in some sun & the view!! Whenever I have chicken nuggets with honey or fish sticks, buttered noodles & a can of green beans it takes me back to my awesome childhood memories! Even eating Kellogg’s Variety Pack cereal brings me back there happily!

[@cpoul]

I was there a lot of weekends in the 60'S. My Great Uncle James Sulivan's cottage. Remember the outdoor showers well and being able to wall out far at low tide. Was served my first peanut butter and butter sandwich by my Aunt Peg. Hated when the rickety bridge was opened to let a boat through. What a great beach.

[@CharGC123]

I grew up in BPT in the late 50's and early 60's. I loved Pleasure beach, so sad to see the after.

[@shedgen0]

Went there when i was very young so i dont have many memories, its such a shame they couldnt rebuild that bridge

[@ELdarkVICTORY]

ANY OTHER CITY WOULD HAVE REBUILT THIS BEACH A LONNNNNNG TIME AGO! I mean, cmon, its a beach in the largest city in CT! Doesn't anyone find something WRONG with this picture? It's disgusting to me to see this go to waste. I know people who live in Mass that would DIE for a beach to go to, Bridgeport has 2 and yet, they let one of them die a horrible death. If not for the citizens, then how about for the eco life? This CAN'T be healthy for them either!

[@gr8fzy1]

Beautifully done.

[@gentlewomanfarmer]

You did a very nice job on this. Our cottage was one of the first to burn. What you didn't mention is that the town was offered 7 million by the cottage owners, and give the bird sanctuary to the state (which was fenced off) and would forever pay waterfront taxes to the town , and the town turned it down. At the time, trump was looking at it to build a casino... So many people fished off that bridge and picniced in the area-not the cottage owners, just many townspeople. many people lost.

[@Deej203]

Great job on this video. I loved it.

[@CobblestoneAndBirch]

Beautifully done. I've always wondered why no one built this up. Such prime beach front property. To me it's always seemed like a cover up. Too many unanswered questions... Cars and houses left still furnished. Like everyone left in a hurry. Doesn't make sense. Great job on this.

[@CobblestoneAndBirch]

I cannot believe that this is what this beach has come to. I used to go here as a child. You can't tell me that people just up and left with all their belongings left to rot. The bridge burnt down??? Yea and they wouldn't rebuild for the people to at least get their stuff out? Bull! There is something going on here. I cannot find anything on the web but the fact that the two cities could not spend the money to rebuild the bridge. Again....bull.

[@IrishTinWhistle]

Rob, You have talent and style. Wonderful composition, nice transitions. Well put together.

[@dannycushingoo74]

Man, this is depressing! i used to go there with my friend Ted and his dad and we would shoot exploding targets and have an all around good time. what the hell happened? is there anything left of pleasure beach?

[@JuanReyes-if6ky]

Actually , The 1980s gang and drug pandemic destroyed the image of pleasure beach.

[@Giggens]

Great job man!

[@SolidSnake14180]

Very nice job man!

[@thedude8976]

Sad I remember it as a child

[@SnarkierThan-U-R]

I grew up in Bpt, used to ride my bike over that rickety bridge as a teen (befiore nthey permanently closed it). I left that city over 35 years ago, seems it hasn't changed. Sad

[@oovii808]

Bridgeport. Haven't been back in years, and you can see why.

[@SnarkierThan-U-R]

Please share with us evidence of where it's gotten better. I m,oved from therre over 20 years ago and I never see anything good about Bridgeport.

[@rjo8500]

Cool video. I've been out to the cottages many times, first time in 1989. Intresting to note that Long Beach, on the Stratford side has been closed since Hurricane Sandy. Wtf???

[@STORMHockey101]

thanks for this, was there cops there or any securaty

[@RaidONE4theONE]

they left quickly because the area was evicted due to fire safety there was only one bridge to get there

[@remellwatson726]

Never remember the shack

[@AjohnsonspotBlogspot]

Who's the author/narrator of this documentary?

[@blkdrgn1132]

find the funding to repair the bridge? gov rell spent excess of $150k to investigate rebuilding the bridge.. the money she spent could have repaired it...

[@SnarkierThan-U-R]

Good and wholesome people will only more back when there's something to move back for so they need to rebuild now if they want peoppole to move back. I know what i'm TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE I USED TO LIVE IN BPT.

[@cwusaaz1]

What a disgrace, the local Mayors must be so proud.

[@jimthompson973]

More like the local, and State Politicians. This is one of the many reasons why People are ditching Connecticut. The Red Tape is absolutely becoming too, too much.

[@angelic1234]

I thought you ment blackpool pleasure beach

[@lavernehinds9120]

Ghost adventures should return to bpt for a episode at pleasure beach

[@RaidONE4theONE]

i live near pleasure beach it is now a wild life refuge to the endangered species piping plover and osprey and endangered plants prickly pear cactus and sea lavender

[@cpoul]

It's better without people, people ruin it.

[@russhelgren]

Such a pity....

[@DrewAnti1960]

I was born in BPT.1960,I think it was the day Bridgeport died

[@1972usmc]

you did a great job on this, and its so sad to see it fall apart. and who can go there now? just the birds and crabs who don't pay taxes.forget us the people who live and pay taxes cant take there family there to fish or have a picnic.and forget the mayor who does nothing but talk, just talk.Bridgeport is going down fast and we the people have know say, cause when we say something, WHO cares?

[@CTphoto1]

nice

[@zHerself]

Mayor finch could of fixed this any mayor could of , we pay so many taxes, where does the money go ? We needa fix this.

[@joshtorres9050]

not fabrizi he was to busy buying coke from s.fardy and marreo

[@frankierobinsonsr277]

Sad how they just let this sit and rot like everything else in Bridgeport. Was nice going there as a kid..nice waterfront property and all these years still can't do anything with it..sorry ass people running the city..just like downtown tore everything down haven't built anything nothing but empty lots.use to go to the move theater downtown look at that still haven't done anything with it...the Mayor suks.

[@1justhin1]

looks like ma back yard

[@MOKAHUNA]

can you say coverup.unauthorized demolition??where are the authorities to protect this area??looks like the vandals had no problem getting there..

[@ronryan5618]

Sad

[@SnarkierThan-U-R]

When I was a teen I woulod ride my bike across that rickety Bridge and around the island. Eventually I moved far far away and never returned. Apparently I made the right decision. What a shame, Bridgeport used to be so lovely. Has the zoo reopened? Have they repaired the bridge? Any new development? My thieving relatives still live in Bridgeport.

[@poedog58]

its a shame that the state or fed, didnt seem fit to help rebuild the bridge & save this small community i bet it was a nice place to grow up. why didnt ( they ) think this was worth saving ? i guess unless it makes the state $ they dont give a shit--too bad, another modern ghosttown---look at detroit---it is a national crime to see video of that town--so sad--that we as americans cant find a way to save a city--times change--but NOT always for the better.

[@mikegio55]

Behold the product of a Democrat run City. My hometown, so very very sad.

[@hpneurotoxichydroshock2075]

This is what a Democrat do put the tax money in their pockets