There is always plenty to do in west Wise County’s largest city. Especially if you are the outdoor type.
Bridgeport is home to the 300-acre Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) Park that features more than 25 miles of trails for off-road enthusiasts from Texas and beyond.
If you are looking for something a little slower paced, try a trip down the West Fork Trinity River along the Bridgeport Falls Paddling Trail.
Thanks to an active parks and recreation department, people of all ages have opportunities to play year-round.
If shopping is more your speed, downtown Bridgeport offers a mix of different shopping and dining options in a historic Main Street district.
The city also celebrates two different aspects of its rich history with festivals in the spring and fall. The Butterfield Stage Days in May honors the city’s early days as a stop on the historic Butterfield Stagecoach trail. The city’s industrial past is also celebrated with the Coal Miners’ Heritage Festival each October.
Government:
Mayor: Randy Singleton
Mayor Pro Tem: Bobby Brazier
City Council Members: Kathy Kennedy, Kevin Lopez, Jimmy Meyers, Bobby Brazier, Billy Fred Walker
Council Meetings
Second and Fourth Mondays of the Month @ 6pm
City Hall
900 Thompson Street
City Manager: Chester Nolan
City Secretary: Rachael Lynch
Phone: 940-683-3400
Website: cityofbridgeport.net
Services
Bridgeport Police Department
Includes 15 officers, including one school resource officer, the chief and assistant chief), four dispatchers, one animal control officer, one code enforcement officer, one administrative manager and a property evidence and records technician.
Police Chief: Steve Stanford
Phone: 940-683-3430
Bridgeport Volunteer Fire Department
Fire Chief: Terry Long
Phone: 940-683-0242 or call 911 for emergencies
Bridgeport Municipal Airport, 299 L.V> Selz Rd
Provides alterative transportation to the general aviation public
Phone: 940-683-3464
Bridgeport Public Library, 2159 10th Street
Has 36,000 books, magazine, audiobooks, newspapers, DVDs and videos available for use by the public.
Interim Librarian: Marisol Cano
Phone: 940-683-3450
Wise Health System Urgent and Primary Care, 1905 Doctors’ Hospital Drive
Provides medical care 8am-8pm, seven days a week.
Phone: 940-683-3014 or call 911 for emergencies
Parks and Recreation
Bridgeport City Pool, 1106 8th Street
Offers a place to cool off during the summer
Phone: 940-683-3480
The city opertates four public parks.
Harwood Park, 707 Hovey Street (near downtown)
Includes playgrounds, picnic tables, pavilion, walking trail and lights, barbaque grills, xeriscape garden, open play area, horseshoe pits and restrooms. The newest amenity is a six-hole disc golf course that opened in late 2015. The pavilion may be reserved for events.
Phone: 940-683-3480
Payne Park, 409 W. Cates Street
Features a covered skate park, picnic tables, playground equipment, basketball court, open play area and restrooms.
Northwest OHV Park (located north of town off of Texas 101)
Includes an ATV park and hiking trail system. It is open Saturdays and Sundays from 8am-7pm during the summer and 8am-5pm in the winter.
Phone: 940-683-3480
Website: cityofbridgeport.net/northwestpark
The city has two facilities that host various community events and can be rented by the public for events up to 200 people:
Bridgeport Community Center, 1102 Lawdwin Ave
Bridgeport Stage, 1009 Halsell
Phone: 940-683-3480
Bridgeport Country Club, 250 Farm Road 2123
Features a spacious 5,983-year, nine-hole golf course with Bermuda greens. it is open seven days a week.
Phone: 940-683-9438
Website: bridgeportcountryclub.net
Visiting
The Bridgeport Visitor Center, located at 812 Halsell Street, provides information on local attractions and history. It also serves as the home of the Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce, the Bridgeport Parks and Recreation Office and the Bridgeport Heritage Museum. The center also showcases the replica Abbot & Downing Concord Coach which represents the city’s history and its title as “Stagecoach Capital of Texas.”
Bridgeport is a Main Street City and the program sponsors special events throughout the year that promote economic development and chronicle the community’s colorful history.
Phone: 940-683-3404
The Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce’s motto is to serve the economic growth of their members while advocating for business advancement, economic growth and job creation for the benefit of Bridgeport. The chamber is staffed by Shelby Carpenter and Mart Beth Holder. Membership luncheons are held at 11:30am every third Thursday of the month. Location varies.
Phone: 940-683-2076
Local Point of Interest
The mission of the Center for Animal Research and Education (CARE) is to provide for the rescue, rehabilitation and holistic nurturing of sick, injured and abused big cats. CARE is home to snow leopards, lions, white and orange tigers, a bobcat, ring-tail lemurs and llamas. CARE is also dedicated to efforts to learn fro the animals’ natural behaviors, instincts and habitats and to learn and practice techniques to enhance the quality of life for big cats in captivity. During the summer, tours are offered at 9am, 11am and 1pm on Saturday and Sunday. Children must be at least 7 years old to take a tour.
Phone: 940-683-8115
Website: bigcatcare.org
Education
The Class 4A Bridgeport Independent School District has a high school, middle school, intermediate school, elementary school and alternative campus.
Superintendent: Brandon Peavey
School Board Members: Jim Bost, Charles Mauldin, Duane Sutherland, Tom Talley, Alan Powers, Scott Hiler and Marci Craddock.
Administration Office, 2107 15th Street
Phone: 940-683-5124
Bridgeport High School, One Maroon Drive
Phone: 940-683-4064
Bridgeport Middle School, 702 17th Street
Phone: 940-683-2273
Bridgeport Intermediate, 1400 U.S. 380
Phone: 940-683-5784
Bridgeport Elementary, 1408 Elementary Drive
Phone: 940-683-5955
Bridgeport Alternative Learning Center, 1101 17th Street
Phone: 940-683-1830
Website: bridgeportisd.net
Read more at WCMessenger.comJimmy Meyers