Paolillo celebrates grand opening of new Fort Hale Park pier

April 27, 2018

Nearly six years after Fort Hale Park pier was leveled by Hurricane Sandy in October 2012, state Rep. Al Paolillo joined Senate President Martin Looney and community leaders at a grand opening of the newly built pier.

The new pier stretches across 360 feet – 10 feet longer than the former structure – and is 12 feet wide. The structure also includes a hammerhead walkway, or a “T” shape, that is 140 feet long and 16 feet wide. This project was made possible with the help of Looney who helped secure $1.8 million in state funding.

For the past five years, the city heard from New Haven residents and held community forums on how the new Fort Hale Park pier can serve as the crown jewel of the East Shore community.

This project stands to not only bring in a new wave of tourism to the city, but it will also help New Haven increase its foot traffic downtown and will allow Connecticut residents to enjoy one of the state’s greatest natural assets – the Long Island Sound.