Bridgeport, CT

A comprehensive master plan and phased improvements to revitalize key infrastructure and strengthen connectivity through streetscape improvements, enhanced public spaces, and unified design elements.

Designed to revitalize key pieces of existing infrastructure, Bridgeport’s Downtown Capital Improvements master plan and phased development projects enhance linkages throughout the city’s north and south downtown districts. By establishing prominent gateway points, the master plan highlights essential components of the revitalization effort to create a more cohesive and welcoming urban experience.

Essential components include five phases of streetscape improvements, including a revitalized central urban space at McLevy Green, a redesigned transportation center plaza and new "Dock Park" on Water Street, and a pedestrian gateway to City Hall at Broad Street. Throughout the districts, numerous improved streets and sidewalks enhance vehicle and pedestrian circulation. Continuity of design details, including special paver patterns, reinforce linkages between Bridgeport’s various urban districts with a unified design language.

In Bridgeport’s historic downtown district, McLevy Green is a tree-lined urban space ideal for outdoor concerts and public gatherings held throughout the summer. The outdoor space is designed to support a diverse range of programs and includes a World War II memorial. Thoughtful detailing complements the adjacent historic McLevy Hall. The Water Street Improvements transportation center plaza, streetscape and green are the eastern gateway into Bridgeport’s downtown welcoming travelers from the Metro-North train station.

Connecting the City Hall area across a steep grade change, the Broad Street Steps provide a landscaped pedestrian gateway to Bridgeport’s downtown districts. Paver patterns and plantings create a pedestrian-scale green space in the midst of Bridgeport’s urban districts while a mid-level plaza provides a gathering space to support local businesses.