By Westport Journal staff

WESTPORT — 2024 was 366 leap-year days long and, as reported by the Westport Journal, also notable for:

A new school. A deeply rooted garden. One very thorny row. Continued.

The long, very bumpy road to revamp Parker Harding Plaza — designed, studied, paused, redesigned, charrette-d, compromised, relaunched and sued — ends the year as it began, stalled in its decades-long status as Harder Parking Plaza.

An election year when the nation went red (Trump, congressional majorities), while Westport and the state anchored a blue tide (Harris, Murphy, Himes and state legislators). The general election’s first-time-ever early voting, however, won big with local voters.

Westport public schools’ administrators and staff were accused by parents of failing to address repeated incidents of racist bullying, following hard on the heels of charges that anti-semitic harassment went unaddressed the previous year.

Like trying to coax a stray kitten in from the rain,  efforts to address the state-cited shortfall of affordable housing in Westport were skittish at best — with one notable exception (see September headlines).

Amazon’s plan to bring a tech-driven “Fresh” food shopping experience to town short-circuited, but family-owned Big Y found major success at the same site.

New timed limits were imposed on downtown parking. But there was no end to the decades-old problem — and studies and debate — over an under supply of parking spaces and over abundance of traffic.

Outsiders were banned from all school properties during class hours, while protests arose over homeowner group’s locked Mill Pond walkway gate blocking public access to the beach.

Bold steps to use artificial intelligence in Westport schools are being contemplated, while a blanket ban on smartphones also is under consideration.

Here, in headlines, is a chronological walk down 2024 memory lane (click the links to read all about it):

January

New Long Lots plan: Field remains minus baseball, gardens shunted elsewhere onsite

Parents to school board: Build new Long Lots without delays

Two Staples students selected as first representatives to school board

Big Y supermarket taking over Amazon Fresh ‘zombie’ site in Westport

After tense meeting, P&Z endorses Tooker’s Long Lots 8-24 request

February

State to Scarice: Criticism of new reading program a ‘myth’

Schools, community highlight efforts to combat antisemitism

‘Phased’ approach to downtown parking lot upgrades rolling out

State of the Town: Downtown parking redo, Long Lots and other big-ticket items loom

Revised downtown parking plans shift into gear

Couple confronts school officials over racist bullying at Staples

Street smart: Online survey asks public’s views on traffic safety

March

Downtown parking: Parker Harding’s loss is Jesup Green’s gain

Funding OK’d to study police, fire and EMS consolidation

Forum highlights schools’ efforts to combat antisemitism, bias

Tragedy averted: 28 rowers rescued from frigid waters

Most of Glendinning proposal passes P&Z in split vote

April

Westport feels tremors from earthquake rumbling across Northeast

New rule restricts access to school grounds while classes are in session

Racism in schools: Parents talk, school officials walk

For Westporters, solar eclipse was a stellar event

After 3 years, blue house at Old Mill removed from blight list

Police: Suspects in violent Aston Martin carjacking face new charges

After long, tense night, P&Z passes Parker Harding/Jesup plan in a squeaker

A final salute for Civil War general, delayed 158 years

Fava to leave parks and recreation post next month

Enforcement of 3-hour downtown parking starts May 1

May

Another traffic-jamageddon: I-95 shutdown floods Westport streets … indefinitely

Plans to redesign Parker Harding, Jesup Green parking lots hit by lawsuit

RTM passes town, education spending plans

Smash-and-grab burglars hit downtown jewelry store

In rekindled debate, RTM slams door on Jesup Green parking plan

Months in the making, new rules on student discipline, conduct OK’d

Compo playground gets enthusiastic slide down P&Z review 

June

Red, White and Beer: Alcohol now on Old Mill menu

MoCA drops ‘Westport’ from name

Scarice: Ban cellphones at all schools

Drive-in sequel: Remarkable Theater, Levitt Pavilion tussle again

Man whose estranged partner killed self, daughter sues town, police in federal court

New parking plan may be needed in wake of ‘tumultuous months’

July

Should town step back from closing off Church Lane?

Marsan sworn in as fire chief: ‘Mission first, people always’

Study for downtown parking structure on the horizon

August

Koskinas to remain police chief longer than expected

Spinning their wheels: Downtown planners rehash decades of parking dead-ends

New map ‘pinpoints’ 1,850+ Westport traffic problems

Last harvest? Uncertain future sows seeds of sadness at community gardens

September

Committee named to oversee affordable housing fund

Staples student on dirt bike killed in crash with dump truck

Detailed report on Staples threats issued by Scarice

Another study of downtown parking woes awaits final approval

Controversy to sanctuary: Wilton Road affordable apartments ‘akin to a miracle’

October

Renewed support unleashed for dog run at Winslow Park

Young leaving as P&Z director, Perillie to take reins

Westporters answer the call to help devastated Helene victims

‘Trust the building committee:’ Long Lots planners assure school officials

‘Charrette’ looks for road ahead on parking from many suggested paths

Officials to gardeners: Time to plot your future

Big turnout greets opening of Westport Big Y supermarket

November

Democrats score solid wins in Westport legislative districts

State Democratic leaders assess future under Trump 2.0

Redistricting plan approved despite pleas by Long Lots parents for exemption

Beach access questions arise as RTM OKs Mill Pond project

Title surge: Staples field hockey dunks Darien for state crown

Bid to allow recreational pot sales in Westport still faces high hurdle

‘Bulletproof?’ P&Z aims to shoot down new outdoor dining, liquor sale challenge

As housing plan advances, some ask why not do more with ‘Barren’s’ South

Woman whose burned body was found in Westport ID’d after 40 years

December

RTM at 75: Legacy of Westport’s citizen assembly celebrated

With marina plan, ‘Hamlet’ developers dip toe into regulatory waters

Elevator restored to Inn at Longshore renovation plans

Study of pedestrian, traffic safety upgrades in Saugatuck OK’d

Fairfield County Hunt Club plans to bring the ‘racquet’ inside

Drone sightings: Extraordinary hoax or extraterrestrial threat?