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The What

How’s the Water at the Beaches on the Long Island Sound, Updates on Air Quality, and more

The What is your look around southwest Connecticut for the week of May 27.

How’s the Water at the Beaches on the Long Island Sound, Updates on Air Quality, and more
Happy unofficial start of summer, our favorite season here at Coastal Connecticut Times. (Photo by Kelly Prinz)

Tuesday, May 27

Happy Tuesday! While the weather didn’t cooperate the whole weekend, we hope you all had a great Memorial Day and are excited for the unofficial start of summer. 

Highlights 

This section gives a brief overview of the key items in the newsletter.

  • A new report from Save the Sound is a mixed bag for southwest Connecticut, as 17 beaches received an A or B grade for their water quality, but the region is also home to two of the worst grades in the state. 
  • Stamford’s Public Safety & Health Committee of the Board of Representatives will receive an update on the city’s air quality monitoring efforts, just a week after we reported on the continuing air quality challenges facing southwest Connecticut.
  • Norwalk’s Common Council will meet and vote on a new ordinance to allow automated traffic enforcement devices in the city. 

Spotlight

This section features our main reporting each week.

Just days after a new Save the Sound report was released outlining water quality at beaches in southwest Connecticut, some waters across the region were closed to swimming over Memorial Day weekend following heavy rains. 

Of the 26 beaches in our region, 17 received an A or B grade for their water in 2024, including four beaches that had A+ grades—Seabright Beach in Bridgeport and three beaches in Norwalk: Calf Pasture, Bell Island, and Rowayton. More than 10 beaches saw their water quality improve from 2023 to 2024, according to the 2025 Long Island Sound Beach Report from Save the Sound, an environmental advocacy group.

But just days after this report was released some of those beaches, including Calf Pasture, had to be closed to swimming due to high bacteria counts after heavy rains.  

The report also found that southwest Connecticut was also home to two of the lowest scoring beaches in the state—Byram Park Beach in Greenwich, which received a D, and Sasco Beach in Fairfield, which received a C.

Check out our piece outlining some of the work that can be done to improve water quality or watch a previous video of ours on how water quality is measured in the Sound. 

Check out our previous video on how water quality is measured in the Sound.

This Week at a Glance

This section aims to highlight the most important meetings and news taking place each week.

  • In Bridgeport, there will be a joint Economic and Community Development and Environment Committee meeting on Wednesday, May 28 at 6:45 p.m. to discuss the proposed zoning changes that would have no off-street parking requirements.
  • A week after we reported on the continuing air quality challenges facing southwest Connecticut, the Public Safety & Health Committee of the Board of Representatives in Stamford will meet on Thursday, May 29 at 6:30 p.m. and receive an update on the city’s air quality monitoring efforts. 
  • In Norwalk, the Common Council will meet on Tuesday, May 27 at 7:30 p.m. and vote on a new ordinance to allow automated traffic enforcement devices as well as an agreement with Open Door Shelter to provide services for Norwalk residents experiencing homelessness. 
  • In Fairfield, the Solid Waste and Recycling Commission will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, May 28 at 2 p.m. on new proposed solid waste and recycling regulations.
  • Also in Fairfield, the Board of Education will meet on Tuesday, May 27 at 7 p.m. and continue its review and discussion of the superintendent’s proposed budget adjustments.
  • In Westport, there will be a Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Update Session on Thursday, May 29 at 7 p.m., which will include updates on the progress of the town’s Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Task Force and will be a chance for residents to note additional areas of traffic concerns.

Plan Your Week

This section includes a list of meetings, events, and programming happening around southwest Connecticut each week.

Bridgeport

Stamford

Norwalk

Fairfield

Greenwich

Darien

Westport

Stay in touch!

As we continue to grow and evolve, please join us! You can do that by:

Please note: All of these agendas and information here are current as of Sunday night. Meeting times and agendas may get adjusted throughout the week.

Have a great week,

Kelly Prinz

Founder, Reporter at Coastal Connecticut Times

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