By Thane Grauel

WESTPORT — It was 1936 when the concession shack alongside an athletic field off Riverside Avenue was built.

Franklin D. Roosevelt was president, and a few years later Nazi Germany would invade Poland.

The field back then was looped by an oval, quarter-mile dirt track.

Today, the track is paved and the field appears laser-level. It sits between two schools, Saugatuck Elementary (previously Bedford Middle School) and Kings Highway Elementary, which originally was Bedford Middle.

The original Saugatuck Elementary, on Bridge Street, is now The Saugatuck, a housing complex. The original Bedford Elementary is now Town Hall. The newest Bedford Middle School is way the heck up near Staples High School.

Revolving names aside, history is catching up with the funky little shack off Riverside.

A demolition notice is posted on its southern side.

The Westport Police Athletic League wants to tear it down and build a new, two-story clubhouse/concession stand at its P.J. Romano Field.

LandTech, on behalf of the town and PAL, recently met with the Planning and Zoning Commission to seek a positive 8-24 report. That’s a report required to do anything on town-owned land.

Planning and Zoning Director Mary Young noted the plan, which exceeds the allowable height, will require approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals, and then the P&Z for site plan/special approval.

Young said the Architectural Review Board might also have to look at the plans.

Member Neil Cohn said he liked the proposal for a new, two-story clubhouse/concession.

He asked if a roof deck would be possible, and perhaps a solar shade. He also lamented that there would be no hot dogs at the concession.

“That would be really unfortunate,” he said.

Member Amie Tesler said she mistook hot dogs for hot tubs. “But I’m still on board,” she said.

“The town is due for an upgrade,” she said. “The sports are pivotal, they’re important, they’re fun, let’s make it a little more comfortable, accessible and do what we can.”

The board granted a positive recommendation for the 8-24 report.

Thane Grauel, executive editor, grew up in Westport and has been a journalist in Fairfield County and beyond for 35 years. Reach him at editor@westportjournal.com. Learn more about us here.