Alert “06880” reader — and longtime Westport observer — Tom Lowrie is intrigued by open spaces.
There’s a lot more of it here than we realize.
The other day, Tom did a deep dive into untouched territory.
Here’s an index he found. It’s accurate as of December 28, 2020. (It’s also about as random as can be.)
As Westport “opens up” after the pandemic, it’s good to know there are places to go without even a whiff of indoor fear.
Haskins Preserve – an underappreciated town jewel. (Photo/Krista Gelev)
The guide also helps the 672 newcomers who have moved here during COVID. One of the driving forces to leave Manhattan and Brookyn is a desire for more space.
Recent arrivals, oldtimers, ex-pats: We’d love to hear your thoughts. What’s your favorite open space? Any surprises on the list? Any that have been missed? Any you’ve never heard of?
Click “Comments’ below. Then we’ll see you — out and about.
Town of Westport
- Compo Beach
- Old Mill Beach
- Sherwood Mill Pond Preserve
- Burying Hill Beach
- Longshore
- Veterans Memorial Green
- Jesup Green
- Winslow Park
- Levitt Pavilion/Riverwalk
- Baron’s South
- Grace K. Salmon Park
The view from Grace Salmon Park (Photo/Patricia McMahon)
- Dr. William P. Teuscher Wetland Preserve
- Imperial Avenue Lots
- Imperial Park
- Luciano Park
- Stroffolino Park
- Riverside Park
- St. John Place/Myrtle Avenue Park
- Eugene Pasacreta Park
- Eloise A. Ray Park
- Lillian Wadsworth Arboretum
- Machamux Park
Machamux Park — one of the oldest sites in what is now Westport. (Photo by Fred Cantor)
- Canal Green
- Canal Beach
- “Needle” Park (1 Main Street)
- Town Hall Fields
- Nevada Hitchcock Park
- 90 Hillspoint Road Fields
- Nistico Fields
- Staples High School Fields
- Wakeman Park
- Coleytown Middle School Fields
- Long Lots Elementary School Field
- Greens Farms Elementary School Field
- Saugatuck and Kings Highway Elementary School Fields (Doubleday and Romano)
- Westport Community Gardens
State of Connecticut
- Sherwood Island State Park
- Saugatuck River Trout Management Area
Shewood Island State Park: 232 acres of prime real estate, right here in Westport.
Connecticut Audubon Society
- H. Smith Richardson Wildlife Preserve and Christmas Tree Farm
- Meadow Restoration at Greens Farms Road
Aspetuck Land Trust
- Haskins Preserve
- Newman-Poses Preserve
- Leonard Schine Preserve
- Hilla Rebay Arboretum
- Peter’s Gate Wetlands
- Comstock Preserve
- Eno Marsh Preserve
- Guard Hill Preserve
- Allen Salt Marsh
- Talcot Wakeman Vineyard Wildlife Habitat
- Taylortown Salt Marsh
- Lees Canal Wetlands
Taylortown Marsh, near Kings Highway North and Wilton Road in downtown Westport. (Photo/Ed Simek)
Private
- Earthplace
- Partrick Open Space Preserve
- Kowalsky “Peaceful Valley Farms”
- Nyala Farms Corporation
- Westport Weston Family YMCA Mahackeno Outdoor Center
- Fairfield County Hunt Club
- St. Vincent’s Behavioral Health Services
- Birchwood Country Club
- Greens Farms Academy Fields and Wetland
Cemeteries
- Burying Hill Beach Colonial
- Assumption Church
- Christ & Holy Trinity and Assumption
- Evergreen Avenue (Saugatuck Church)
- Willowbrook
Willowbrook cemetery – with the remnants of Daffodil Mile.
- Greens Farms Church (upper and lower)
- Poplar Plains
- Old Burial Ground at Kings Highway
- Platt Burial Ground
- Gray’s Creek
- Compo Colonial