Beardsley Park

125 acres with a splash pad, playground & zoo next door

📍 Bridgeport, CT Free Entry

4.7 (244 Google)

📍 1875 Noble Ave, Bridgeport, CT

📞 (203) 576-7233

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Beardsley Park is a sweeping 125-acre Olmsted-designed park in Bridgeport right next to the Beardsley Zoo, making it easy to combine both in one memorable outing with grandkids. The seasonal splash pad (open 10am-8pm) and large playground keep children happily busy, while grandparents can relax at picnic tables under mature shade trees. Free to enter and genuinely beloved by local families.

Grandparent-Friendly Details

Walk-in

Walk-ins welcome

Accessibility

Wheelchair & stroller accessible

Parking

Easy parking

Noise level

Moderate noise

Outdoor seating

Covered / shaded

Typical visit

~1.5 hours

Best age range

Ages 1–12

Fun Things to Do Here

Ideas to make the most of your visit to Beardsley Park

Nature Scavenger Hunt

Find a feather, a bug, 3 different leaves, something smooth, something rough, and one thing nobody else spots.

Cloud Shapes

Lie on the grass and take turns naming what clouds look like. No wrong answers here.

Bird Count

Keep score of every different bird species you spot on the walk. Grandkids take this surprisingly seriously.

Stick Olympics

Find a stick and compete: longest throw, best skip across water, who can balance it longest on one finger.

Bench Race

Pick two routes to the same bench. Who gets there first? Let the grandkids pick their route.

Free printable: Park Scavenger Hunt

Download

Budget & Insider Tips

Grandparent Money Tips

• Most county parks are free to enter during the week — the parking fee is the main cost, and many lots don't have attendants before 9am.
• Pack a picnic. A park visit with a homemade lunch beats a restaurant every time for grandkids, and costs a fraction.
• Free ranger programs run most weekends at state parks — check the DEC or DEEP calendar before you go.

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