New Haven Register (Sunday) (New Haven, CT)
Bridgeport cracks down on Seaside Park rules
BRIDGEPORT — Following two illegal, crowded events at Seaside Park, one of which ended with three people wounded by gunshots, officials have announced an increased police presence there and changes in the entry rules.
Mayor Joe Ganim’s office said that the park’s checkpoints will open and be staffed earlier in the season on May 6 rather than starting later that month on Memorial Day weekend.
And although residents still have until that unofficial start of summer — May 27, the Saturday before Memorial Day — before having to display their seasonal entry stickers, all other visitors will need to purchase and utilize day or seasonal passes by May 6.
Details are available under the Park Sticker tab in the Parks & Recreation section of the city’s website, bridgeportct.gov.
Also, according to the mayor’s office, the police department “will be providing additional patrol cars on warm days and weekends” and additional parking enforcement officers leading up to Memorial Day. And public facilities will be increasing the signage at Seaside emphasizing that any large gatherings require a special permit which is on top of the visitor stickers.
Events up to 50 people need approval from the parks department while larger functions also require a vote by the mayoral-appointed parks commission. For more information, visit bridgeportct.gov/parksandrec.
Ganim, Police Chief Roderick Porter and Public Facilities Director Craig
Nadrizy also outlined the changes during a video shot at Seaside Park and posted on social media.
“We all have been in communication ... to address theses concerns of people coming in to utilize our park and not taking care of our park,” Nadrizny said.
“We attract a lot of people who want to come and use our park and we’re okay with that but just use it responsibly and respect our laws and our ordinances,” Porter said.
Last Thursday three individuals were shot at an unpermitted music event involving a disc jockey that drew a crowd of over 200.
On Friday the suspect, resident Christopher Rooche, was arraigned in state Superior Court on charges of three counts of first-degree assault and single counts of first-degree reckless endangerment, illegally firing a firearm, stealing a firearm, carrying a pistol without a permit, possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle, possession of a large capacity magazine, tampering with evidence, interfering with police, running from police, and reckless driving.
“We don’t want that element at our parks in our city, anywhere,” Ganim said in the video with Porter and Nadrizny.
Then on Sunday some City Council members and the chairman of the parks commission called police back to Seaside to break up an unauthorized car show that witnesses said also drew a few hundred people.
City Councilman Jorge Cruz is one of two members of that legislative body who represent the South End where Seaside is located. Cruz was at the scene Sunday and filmed long lines of vehicles, most he and others said from New Jersey, winding their way out of the attraction after police had arrived.
Cruz on Thursday said he was “very happy” that City Hall has responded to calls for stepped up enforcement at Seaside, but wished the checkpoints would open even sooner.
“We can’t wait until May 6,” Cruz said. “It’s a good thing, but the fact of the matter is the park is still wide open, free for everybody. We gotta have enforcement now.”
His council partner, Ty
ler Mack, said officials still need to consider if, longterm, the city should move up the start of the parks season from May to April, and come up with a staffing solution “not just for now, but years from now.”
Councilman Scott Burns agreed. Burns represents the Black Rock section of town, which is separated from Seaside Park by water. He received plenty of complaints from constituents Sunday about the loud music from the car show that could be heard in his neighborhood and had driven to Seaside to investigate.
“I think we need to look at the entire operation more comprehensively,” Burns said. “Between police, parks staffing.”
Burns is also co-chairman of the council’s budget committee which is
currently drafting a municipal spending plan for the new fiscal year beginning July 1 and meeting with various department heads like Nadrizny and Porter to discuss their operations and personnel needs.
Burns said he also thinks it would be helpful if the city sold beach stickers online or through the mail. Ganim’s announcement noted they are available for purchase at the Seaside Park checkpoints for purchase by credit card or for cash/credit at the parks department’s office at 7 Quarry Road, which is just over the border in neighboring Trumbull.
“If we get more people buying passes, we’re going to get more revenue, have more compliance, and maybe then we can afford to staff the checkpoints earlier in the year or whatever else we need to do,” Burns said. “Let’s try to figure it out.”