By Hallie Picarello

WESTPORT — Revitalization plans for the Avery Place grounds of the Westport Museum for History and Culture were unveiled at this week’s Historic District Commission meeting.

Hanna Przada, principal of LyonsPlain Architecture and Design, presented the plans at a “pre-application” hearing Tuesday.

The plans are designed to “improve wayfinding and walkway circulation and to beautify the garden of the museum” at 25 Avery Place, the commission was told.

“There is an opportunity to potentially introduce some enhancements to the property,” said Przada, who noted she has spent time on the museum’s property working on the Bradley-Wheeler barn.

Exterior elements of the property are the focus of the project, which includes repairing and refinishing the existing iron fence and installing a natural cedar wood privacy fence along the back and side of the property.

Other details include addition of a circular walkway within the garden, a revised stone path connecting all entries to the site, a new brick donor recognition path, the addition of teak wood benches in the garden, spot lighting and flood lighting throughout, and new native and ornamental plants in the garden.

Commission members voiced little to no concerns about the proposal. They indicated that the scope of work appears to conform with the historic nature of the original architecture. The museum is headquartered in the Bradley-Wheeler House, built in 1795 and listed on both the National and Connecticut Registers of Historic Places.

Scott Springer, architect and commission member, was pleased with the proposal. “I’m excited to see that site upgraded,” he said. “It’s needed some help for a while, so this will be a nice burst of energy.”

Since the proposal was presented at a pre-application hearing to gain the commission’s feedback, a formal application will be filed at a later date for a decision by the panel.

Hallie Picarello is a freelance writer.