By Gretchen Webster

WESTPORT — A slate of community events is planned for this spring, summer and fall — including the return of July 4 holiday fireworks after two years — as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic wanes, the Parks and Recreation Commission was told Wednesday.

But residents also might find some of their recreational program and activity fees will be higher in the new season. 

The commission voted Wednesday to give formal approval for several events this spring and summer, and to recommend higher fees for three programs. 

Fee increases recommended

Cynthia Palaia, program manager for the Parks and Recreation Department, requested that fees to attend Camp Compo for children in kindergarten through fourth grade, and for the RECing Crew camp program for children in grades five through eight be increased by $20 each for the summer season. 

Pickleball weekday instruction would be increased by $30, with weekend instruction increased by $15 for multi-lesson packages, if approved. 

The fee increases are necessary, Palaia said, because of an increase in minimum wage and other increases in operating costs. 

“Our fees are structured for programs to break even,” said Parks and Recreation Director Jennifer Fava. 

The fee increases were endorsed by the commission, but still must be approved by the Board of Selectwomen, she said. 

The recommended fee increases are among the first in the department’s sustainability policy to analyze program-wide fees, Fava added. 

“We’re going through everything to see where we fall and where we need to change fees,” she told the commission. “Then we’ll be … coming to you with a larger group of proposed fees for fall and spring of next year.”

The commission also briefly discussed the possibility of offering senior discounts for some programs, but Fava said the fee structure has been based on the cost of individual programs, and not on the ages of people who use them.

July 4 holiday fireworks returning after two years

The commission on Wednesday also approved bringing back several community events this year.

The town’s traditional fireworks display — canceled in 2020 and 2021 because of COVID protocols — is planned for June 30, with a rain date of July 1, over Compo Beach.

The celebration cannot be held on the holiday itself, because the barges used as the fireworks launching site are in demand by area towns, and are not always available on a particular date, said Craig Bergamo, president of the Westport Police Athletic League, which sponsors the fireworks event.

This year, there will be 1,800 parking spaces sold at Compo Beach, 200 fewer spaces than in previous years because the parking was too tight, Fava said. The entry fee will be $40 per car. 

Another community event approved by the commission is the Dog Festival, returning for its sixth year to Winslow Park. 

The canine celebration will be held this year in May or June, said Matthew Mandell, RTM member from District 1 and executive director of the Westport-Weston Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the event. Last year, the event took place in October.

The festival draws as many as 3,000 people and 1,000 dogs, he told the commission.

Mandell asked for an exception to the commission’s policy of allowing only one sign to be posted a week prior to an event on town property. 

Two banners hung for two weeks would help better promote the festival, Mandell said.  

After discussion, the commission voted to allow Dog Festival organizers to hang two banners for 10 days, despite some complaints last year about the festival’s signs.

The commission also approved eight tournaments to be held at Longshore’s golf course. The tournaments are profitable fundraisers for nonprofit groups, several tourney organizers told the commission.