Welcome to the President’s Blog of the Bridgeport Downtown Special Services District. Below you will find an update regarding current and planned projects for downtown Bridgeport.

DSSD has created a preliminary schedule of downtown events for 2012. DSSD will post these events to InfoBridgeport.com shortly.

DSSD is utilizing the City’s Qalert system in order to notify the City of conditions within downtown. DSSD welcomes your comments and observations and will assist you in utilizing the Qalert system.

DSSD is in the preliminary stages of forming a Merchants Association within downtown. During the first half of February, DSSD and staff from the Community Capital Fund will schedule outreach meetings with downtown business owners to identify participants and the mission of the merchants group. If you are interested in participating or learning more please contact me at moore@brbc.org.

The DSSD is working with the Greater Bridgeport Regional Council (GBRC) to identify and map public amenities within downtown. These amenities include signs, tree beds and trash receptacles. Once complete, this information will assist DSSD and the City to coordinate maintenance projects within downtown. DSSD and the GBRC will then work to incorporate this information into the City’s Geospatial Information System (GIS).

The City’s Public Facilities is conducting on-going maintenance including the repair of potholes along targeted streets within downtown including Main Street, John Street, Fairfield Avenue and State Street.

The City Public Facilities Department is nearing the completion of the a public park located on the grounds of City Hall Annex near the vicinity of State and Broad Streets. Work on the park will soon end for the winter. The formal opening of the park will take place in the Spring 2012.

The City will initiate construction on the first phase of the Police Memorial during the second half of January 2012. This first phase will conclude by March 2012 (weather permitting).

The City Public Facilities Department is now finalizing the Parks and Open Space Master Plan. The City will forward this document to the City’s Common Council by the close of January 2012 for final review and approval.

The City’s Public Facilities staff is finalizing the design of new way finding signage and banners in the vicinity of the Bridgeport Ferry Terminal. Public Facilities staff anticipates the installation of the signage by March 31, 2012.

The Bridgeport Downtown Special Services District will produce a regular blog as part of InfoBridgeport.com in order to inform property owners, businesses, residents and stakeholders of projects and events that will impact daily life within downtown.

Wall Street has been closed in order to accommodate a gas line repair. Wall Street will reopen by Tuesday evening (January 3rd).

The City of Bridgeport’s Department of Public Facilities has completed the process to remove leaves from streets within downtown. Public Facilities staff may undertake additional leaf maintenance/removal into the first week of January.

City Public Facilities staff is coordinating additional tree planting within the downtown, specifically Public Facilities staff and SLM Northeast Horticultural Services will plant trees in the vicinity of the on/off ramps for Exits 2 and 3 from the Route 8/25 connector. Public Facilities staff has established a formal system by which property owners may request the City to plant a tree at their location through the Adopt-A-Tree Program. Property owners that wish to participate in the City’s Adopt-A-Tree Program may contact Mr. Steve Hladun at Steve.Hladun@bridgeportct.gov or visit http://www.bridgeportct.gov/ParksRecreation/Pages/AdoptATree.aspx to download the request form.

New park under construction in front of the City Hall Annex on Broad Street.

The City Public Facilities Department is nearing the completion of the a public open space located on the grounds of City Hall Annex near the vicinity of State and Broad Streets. Work on the open space will soon end for the winter. The formal opening of the public space will take place in the Spring 2012.

The City has now completed all paving for the current calendar year. The City has also completed the installation of new handicapped accessible ramps at intersections where paving has taken place.

The City will initiate construction on the first phase of the Police Memorial during the second half of January 2012. This first phase will conclude by March 2012 (weather permitting).

The City Public Facilities Department is now finalizing the Parks and Open Space Master Plan. The City will forward this document to the City’s Common Council by the close of January 2012 for final review and approval. More information can be found on the city of Bridgeport website here: http://www.slideshare.net/royerb1/sasaki-bridgeport-parks-master-plan-final-presentation