By Kerri Williams

WESTPORT – A peek at what may be included in a master plan for town parks was on the agenda for the Parks & Recreation Commission’s virtual meeting on Wednesday.

A possible site for community gardens and a closer look at Jesup Green were two highlights of a presentation by Dominick Celtruda, of BL Companies, the Meriden consultant hired to prepare the plan. Celtruda also talked about an upcoming meeting at the Westport Library Sept. 30, which would be the second workshop to get community feedback on the plan. The first event was held in April.

“Nothing is finalized,” Celtruda said during his report. “There’s still time for feedback.”

First update in three decades

The master plan process, which began at the end of last year, is the first update in more than three decades and should be finalized by the end of November, Celtruda said.

According to two commissioners, there is “a lot of interest” in the upcoming meeting, as some people have said they feel left out of discussions. Some leaders of town sports want to be sure their concerns have been heard, according to Commissioner Gery Grove. “My feedback is that people feel they have been kept in the dark,” she said.

As part of his presentation, Celtruda listed 14 sites that are the focus of the plan: 

• Compo Beach
• Burying Hill Beach
• Barons Hill South
• Grace K. Salmon Park
• Jesup Green
• Lillian Wadsworth Arboretum
• Machamux Park
• Veteran Green
• Winslow Park
• Burr Farms Athletic Fields
• Doubleday Field Complex
• Luciano Field
• Saugatuck Elementary School
• Town Hall athletic fields

Overall recommendations

Some of the overall recommendations in the draft plan include improved accessibility for parks, making them more bike- and dog-friendly, enhancing natural resources, creating unified signage and scheduling, and conducting field upgrades and maintenance.

In taking a closer look at some components of the plan, Celtruda focused on Burr Farms, which he said is one potential site for the relocated community gardens. 

Gardens rep “thrilled”

During public comment, Laureen Haynes, who represents the gardeners, said she was “thrilled to see (Burr Farms) mentioned,” since it was the option that the gardening group thought was the best one. She added that she was interested in learning of any other potential sites included in the plan. 

The community gardens had previously been located at Long Lots Elementary School but were made to leave earlier this year because of the new school project there.

Jesup Green

Celtruda also gave more detailed information on recommendations for Jesup Green, which include improving accessibility, additional areas of public art, and renovating the “open green” area.

During public comments, Harris Falk cautioned that DPIC, the Downtown Plan Implementation Committee, has already spent money to develop a plan for that area. Haynes, who also owns the Chocolatierree, at 66 Church Lane, wondered if this was a “duplicate effort.” 

“Who owns that project?” Haynes questioned.

Celtruda responded that perhaps the BL Companies plan could reinforce what DPIC is proposing. 

He added that a final plan would include recommendations for financing any proposed improvements and prioritize projects. Some of the projects could be completed by using the normal operating budget, while others would need to be planned and financed, he said.

The next workshop to receive public feedback for the plan will take place on Sept. 30 at 6 p.m. at the Komansky Room at the Westport Library, 20 Jesup Road. Residents may also email their feedback to BL Companies at WestportPMP@gmail.com.

Kerri Williams

^{_{Kerri Williams is an award-winning writer and journalist. She has worked as a reporter at the Norwalk Hour, as Living editor at the Darien News-Review, and managing editor for the Norwalk Citizen-News. For Westport Journal, she is a reporter as well as a gardening columnist, writing “Cultivating with Kerri.” She recently published her first children’s book – “Mabel’s Big Move,” based on her daughter with special needs.}}