Quick: Where is Pasacreta Park?
It’s the tiny plot on the Saugatuck River, across from Saugatuck Elementary School. Most Westporters know it only as a spot for fishermen, or the place where ducks gather before waddling across Riverside Avenue.
It could be a town gem — an oasis worthy of its namesake. (Captain Eugene Pasacreta, a revered member of the Westport Police force, was 50 years old when he died in 1976.)
Next month, Pasacreta Park gets a long-overdue facelift.
The memorial honoring Captain Eugene Pasacreta looks shabby. It will be refurbished during the CNLA makeover. (Photo by Silvia F. Erskine Associates)
On October 7, 20 members of the Connecticut Nursery and Landscape Association will descend on the park. They’ll plant 13 small trees, 150 shrubs and 1500 grass and flower plugs, while opening up obstructed river views.
CNLA nurseries are donating all of the plant material, with CNLA members providing free labor. It’s all part of their annual PlantConnecticut program — a gift to the state.
Every year since 1950, the CNLA picks a different site for their complimentary planting and landscaping. This year’s project comes thanks to the work of Wendy Crowther.
A longtime advocate for improving local parks, she discovered CNLA’s initiative by chance. As a member of Westport’s Parks and Recreation Commission, Wendy knew that other priorities have prevented the town from allocating money for park improvements. Her proposal to CNLA hit paydirt.
Tony Palmer is CNLA’s Westport representative. He will help coordinate efforts with Parks & Rec, to pull off the 1-day planting blitz.
When it’s done, Westporters will have a fresh view of the river. Fishermen will have a nicer spot to cast for stripers and blues.
And our ducks will have a new spring in their waddle.
Kudos to Tony Palmer.
He continues to lend his hard work and expertise
to many worthwhile projects in Westport.
Pausing for the ducks and geese to cross the road is a weird (good) tradition that has survived even as the traffic on this road has increased significantly. This also happens, though less often, on 136 at Duck Pond Road.
Very nice job, Wendy! As your term on the Parks and Rec Commission comes to a close, it is nice to see your hard work (and there has been A LOT of it) improving the landscape of Westport is getting its day in the sun!
This wonderful project exemplifies Ralph Waldo Emerson ‘s quote, “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” Congratulations to everyone involved.