It’s a story about passing the torch. In June of this year, the Bridgeport Lions Club stepped up to take care of a community garden previously maintained by Bridgeport Garden Club. Up in years, members of the Garden Club could no longer continue the physical project.

 

“As Lions, ‘We Serve’ – which is our motto – and this is our way of giving back to our community and we are very happy to be able to do so,” said Lion Club President Diana Bedell.  

 

Four months later, that spot – the corner of Johnson Avenue and Philadelphia Avenue – will be dedicated as “Lions Circle.” The public is invited to attend the 5:30 p.m. Oct. 3 event.

 

“We want to thank the city of Bridgeport for all they have done to help us along the way,” Bedell said. “It’s been a major undertaking; more than we anticipated. We also want to thank Bridgeport Garden Club. They kept it up for a lot of years and we are happy to take it over.”

 

Community members have expressed their appreciation, too.

 

“They stop when we are watering and are just excited that there is something going in there that is pleasing to the eye,” Bedell said. “It had kind of gotten run down and we understand how those things happen. This is just part of our service to the community.”

 

The environment is just one facet of the Lions Club initiative. With the assistance of the city, members cleared some of the land and began the project – which is a work in progress.

 

“To date, we have put in totally new top soil, mulched it and placed various perennials,” Bedell said.

 

Much more is planned, including the “Paving the Future” initiative which will pay tribute to members of the club, which was chartered in 1930.

 

“At the dedication, we’ll be offering to people the opportunity to either memorialize family and friends who were Lions or someone they want to honor or memorialize who aren’t necessarily Lions,” Bedell said. “We want to do engrave pavers that will be lining the area from the sidewalk to the Lions sign.”

 

At Monday’s Bridgeport City Council meeting, Mayor Andy Lang made mention of the dedication and the project, thanking Bridgeport Lions Club for their work at the Johnson Avenue/Philadelphia Avenue site and for other projects through the years.

 

Those projects include the following:

 

Help with eyeglasses and exams

Free vision screenings in the schools

Diabetic Education and camp funds

Youth Leadership Camp scholarships

Environmental improvement projects

Shepherd's Corner food pantry collection

The Clarksburg Mission donations

Health Access Dental Clinic donation

Visually Impaired Camp Scholarships

Space Camp for Blind tuition help

The Challenger Baseball League sponsor

Lion's Point Picnic shelter at Hinkle Lake

Bill Miles beeping egg hunt for the blind

BHS Senior Education Grant

 

Read the original June 9 story, "Bridgeport Lions Club Reviving Community Garden," HERE on Connect-Bridgeport.