If you’re relatively new to Westport, you’ve never heard of “Needle Park.”
If you grew up here, you know exactly where it was.
For decades, when the library was located on the Post Road between Main Street and Parker Harding Plaza — think Freshii and Starbucks today — it included a small outdoor gathering spot at the Post Road/Main Street corner.
With trees, bushes and benches, it may or may not have had an official name. It was a pleasant place to sit, hang out, people-watch, read or play guitar, and a perfect place for protests (Vietnam War, Nixon, you name it).
But because (supposedly) it was also a place to use and sell drugs, generations of Westporters called it “Needle Park.”
The Library owned the property. A deed ensured that it would remain open space in perpetuity. Indeed.
Sometime after the library left, and commercial real estate took over, the park turned into a concrete block. It’s now the entrance to the Pop’TArt gallery (which bears no blame for its current state; they inherited it).
All that remains are memories. Plus a sign — “Deeded Open Space. The public is welcome to this park and terrace” — which was last week’s Photo Challenge (click here to see).
And which Pat Saviano, Lynn Untermeyer Miller, Dick Lowenstein and Morley Boyd all identified correctly.
Coincidentally, the tiny park was spruced up on Friday by the Westport Garden Club. It’s part of their #FridayFlowers campaign. Members promise to keep the pots — there are 2 — spruced up throughout summer.
(Photo/Topsy Siderowf)
This week’s Photo Challenge is a gorgeous one, by Mary Sikorski. If you know where in Westport you’d see this, click “Comments” below.
(Photo/Mary Sikorski)