Residents raise drug-use, maintenance and access concerns at Chiquino Field; council, police discuss signage and patrols

Residents told the Bridgeport Borough Council on Sept. 23 that drug use, discarded needles and general neglect at Chiquino Field are creating safety concerns, particularly for children and nearby businesses. Speakers asked the borough to consider closing or gating the site overnight; borough staff and the police described legal limits on gating and said increased patrols and signage are options.

Why it matters: Chiquino Field is a neighborhood park adjacent to recent housing developments and small businesses; public-safety and maintenance problems there affect families, dog-owners and commercial activity near the riverfront.

Business owner Jeanette (June) Charles, who owns Junebug Sweet Treats near the field, told the council she repeatedly finds drug paraphernalia and that children and pets use the area. “There’s a lot of drug use happening back there,” she said, and asked whether the borough could close the park at night or otherwise restrict access to keep children safe.

In response, a borough staff member explained the borough received a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant in the 1970s (for about $35,000). The staff member said the conditions of that federal grant require the park to remain open and prohibit gating. That staff member said converting the park to another use or selling it would require finding replacement land of equal or larger size and dedicating it under the same federal covenants.

Bridgeport’s police chief reported increased patrols of parks and recent enforcement activity. The chief noted a recent string of vehicle-related thefts where unlocked vehicles were targeted and said: “Of all of the thefts we had in the last week, not a single car was broken into. They were unlocked.” The chief encouraged residents to secure vehicles and provide the police with patterns or camera footage to help investigations.

The chief also said officers perform multiple nightly park patrols and that the department has issued citations for dogs at large and other violations. Council members and staff discussed placing posted signs indicating park closure hours or otherwise managing access; one council member suggested making signage an agenda item at a future meeting so staff could implement a closure time without creating an ordinance.

On a related maintenance matter, Charles asked about a fenced “doggy run” near new housing along the river. Borough staff said that area remains the developer’s responsibility until it is formally dedicated to the borough; staff committed to check the dedication plan and follow up.

What council asked staff to do: Council members agreed to direct staff to examine signage and procedures to limit late-night access and to place the matter on a future agenda for formal consideration. Police asked residents to report times/days when problems occur and to share surveillance footage where available to help investigators.

Local partners and volunteers: The council and police thanked a community volunteer, Trish Berna of the county veteran outreach, for donating 10 jackets to help residents during colder weather. The chief noted officers distribute donated clothing as needed during patrols.

What the record shows and what it does not: The transcript documents public comment and staff responses, the existence of the LWCF grant with an approximate $35,000 original award in the 1970s, and that police increase patrols in response to complaints. The transcript does not record a final vote to gate the park; rather, council discussion focused on signage and enforcement options and a possible future agenda item.