While Fairfield students learn about everything from philosophy to accounting in the classroom, how much do they really know about the area in which they live?
Fifteen students from the Students for Social Justice club took a bus tour of Bridgeport on Friday to find out more about the city’s history and current situation.
“I thought the tour was very informative, and the people running it really gave us some insights into the people, challenges and successes of the city,” said Joey LaCroix ’08. “I run a program called Sunshine Kids, and it was invaluable to me to learn firsthand about some of the problems my kids face.”
Although Bridgeport hit its economic high point during World War II as an arms manufacturing city, it took a downturn when the war ended. The lack of jobs meant that anyone who could afford to move outside of the city did so quickly.
Controversy continued to plague Bridgeport over the years, such as the removal of Exit 28 heading South on I-95. During the height of the crack cocaine epidemic in the 1980s, the city of Bridgeport removed the exit to prevent people from simply getting off for a few minutes, buying drugs and getting back on the highway.
Today, Bridgeport is working hard to recreate its image.
While Bridgeport is finding new life through outside investment, building stadiums and skyscrapers isn’t directly significant for the city’s residents. A stop at an after school program run by Denise Taylor proved that to the Fairfield students.
“The South End is a neighborhood that this city has abandoned,” Taylor said. “If they had kept up with it, it could be a landmark of the city, but it has lost that opportunity to grow.”
Paige Nelson, tour guide for the afternoon, was always careful to challenge the students whenever she pointed out new schools or higher income housing.
She also reminded students that every time these structures are erected, houses are torn down; many of the houses belong to families that can’t afford to go anywhere else.
A lone house is surrounded by seven blocks of overgrown weeds in the South End. All of the homes have been torn down or relocated to build a new Commerce Center.
The tour was not only sobering images; Nelson also pointed out some of the brighter areas Bridgeport has to offer. A quick right off of Post Road takes you to the Black Rock neighborhood of Bridgeport.
This area, which borders the Long Island Sound, was built up by P.T. Barnum in the 19th century and is home to many of the Bridgeport elite, including congressman Christopher Shays (R-CT).
Seaside Park is another popular spot in Bridgeport that Fairfield students may not know about. Located just a few blocks from I-95, Seaside Park is another remnant left to the city by P.T. Barnum.
The park starts just behind the University of Bridgeport and runs along the road out to a peninsula. Seaside park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who also co-designed Central Park in New York City, and is a lush, green oasis in an otherwise overbearing city.
Surrounding the parks and neighborhoods, however, is still the city. Factories fill the skyline with smoke and serve as reminders of past economic success.
The city is on the upswing, but the people might not be going along with it, according to Nelson.
“I think that Bridgeport is definitely on the rise, but there are different levels,” Nelson said. “Development is one level and they’ve been improving there, but they can’t forget about the people.”
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