Beardsley Park

Noble Avenue

Bridgeport, CT 06610

Park Hours:

Daily 8:00 a.m. - Dusk

Park Admission:

Bridgeport Residents: FREE; Memorial Day through Labor Day: $4.00 for out-of-town visitors and $6.00 for out-of-state visitors

Season Passes:

$5.00 for residents; $30.00 for non-residents; $5.00 for special permits; FREE for seniors (available at checkpoint booths)

Zoo Hours:

Daily 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Zoo Admission:

$9.00 for adults (ages 12 & older); $7.00 for children (ages 3 -11); $7.00 for seniors (62 & older); FREE for children under 3 years; FREE for Connecticut Zoological Society Members

Directions:

From New Haven - Merritt Parkway: Take exit 52, south to Bridgeport, to Routes 8 and 25. Proceed to exit 5, Boston Avenue. At the end of the ramp, bear right and go to the fifth traffic light. Turn left onto Noble Avenue and proceed to the Beardsley Park entrance on the left.

From New York -Merritt Parkway: Take exit 49S, Bridgeport, to Route 25. Proceed to exit 5, Boston Avenue. At the end of the ramp, bear right and go to the fifth traffic light. Turn left onto Noble Avenue and proceed to the Beardsley Park entrance on the left.

From I-95: Take exit 27A to Routes 8 and 25. Proceed to exit 5, Boston Avenue. At the traffic light at the end of the ramp, go left to the fourth traffic light. Turn left onto Noble Avenue and proceed to the Beardsley Park entrance on the left.

Beardsley Park

In 1878, James Beardsley, a wealthy cattle dealer, donated over 100 acres to the city of Bridgeport and in 1884 the city contracted noted landscape architect and Connecticut native Frederick Law Olmsted to create a design for Beardsley Park. Most famous for designing Central Park in New York City, Olmsted was fascinated with nature and believed in its restorative power.

The park still retains much of its historic character with its winding roads and paths through woodlands. The Pequonock River runs through the now nearly 200-acre park, with the 42-acre Bunnell's Pond offering terrific fishing for largemouth bass, chain pickerel, yellow perch, pumpkinseed and redbreast sunfish. In addition, the pond is stocked with brook, brown and rainbow trout.

Beardsley Park has long been known as a place showcasing exotic animals. Legend states that Phineas Taylor (P.T.) Barnum, a Bridgeport resident recognized for his world famous circus "Greatest Show on Earth," would have circus employees exercise zebras and camels at the park. In 1920, Bridgeport Parks Commissioner Wesley Hayes began a campaign to create a City Zoo within the Park, known today as Beardsley Zoo.

The zoo provides a wonderfully wild experience for the whole family. Beardsley Zoo is Connecticut's only zoo and is an accredited member of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) and participant in its Species Survival Plan (SSP), committed to the preservation of endangered animals and continually developing strategies that will protect species and preserve their wild habitats. Open year-round and exhibiting almost 300 animals - including several endangered species such as tigers and bears - the zoo is a great place to spend the day and visit often for the variety of special events.

Activities

• Fishing
• Picnicking
• Field Sports
• Biking
• Zoo