Should Soundview Drive be closed to vehicles more than once each summer?
An overwhelming number of Westporters say: Yes!
“06880” asked that question last week. The survey was sparked by the cool, leisurely, festival-like vibe that happens every year just before the fireworks. The cars and motorcycles are gone; instead, Westporters of all ages stroll, chat, meet and mingle.
So, we wondered, why not do it regularly (or semi-regularly)? And add music, perhaps a juggler or face painter or caricature artist, and maybe food trucks?
252 readers responded. 85.7% were in favor of closing the beach “for certain designated Saturdays or Sundays.” 14.3% were opposed.
Answers came from all over town. The survey did not differentiate between readers who lived near the beach — and would be most affected — and those who did not.
Those who answered “yes” were asked. “How often?”
“Occasionally (3-4 times a summer) led with 36.7%, followed by “A few (1-2 times),” 24.5%; “Every weekend in summer” (20%); “A lot (5-8)” at 12.7%, and “Not in favor” (6.1%).
Readers who were opposed to the idea were asked “why not?” They could write in their own reason.
The most frequent answer (25%) was “too much disruption and traffic.” Three respondents each said “Don’t like food trucks” and “Don’t like music on the beach.”
Other reasons (1 each) included:
- They never signed up for this — it’s a private street
- It’s a public road
- Very dangerous and inconvenient for residents; harebrained idea
- In favor, but need to be considerate of residents
- Disturbance of relative peace and quiet of a lovely weekend
- Too much disruption and traffic for the other street
- Not enough spots in beach parking lot
- More out-of-town people would use the beach
- Speeders would now choose Bradley Street
- Possible costs to the town (police?)
- Opens the door to commercialism; would ruin the peace of the beach.
The most popular name suggested (63.5%) was “Soundview Summer.”
With so many people in favor — but with very valid opposition — the next steps are:
- Devising a plan to propose to town officials and area residents
- Addressing concerns raised.
If you’re interested in being part of this group, please email 06880blog@gmail.com.
Party on!
Peacefully, of course.
The view from a Soundview Drive home, on fireworks day. Odds are without pyrotechnics, crowds would be smaller. (Photo/Dan Woog)
If I lived on Soundview I would be opposed. It invades their privacy in a way that passing cars do not. There are beach towns in New England that have a carnival atmosphere ( commercialism, music, food, etc ) which I think would Ruin the loveliness of Compo Beach. I won’t disparage certain towns but please do not invite crowds and commercialism to Compo. My great grandparents built in Westport in the 1920’s, I’ve been coming to Compo all my life.
This will be fun to watch. Stoners staggering into front lawns to relieve themselves. I think it was very shrewd of Dominion Voting Systems to diversify into neighborhood surveys.
As a Compo resident I strongly oppose. Once a summer for fireworks and then mobs of tricker treaters walking though yards, with many rude kids and parents, finding candy wrappers and other things in your yard and in the street the next morning is enough. People don’t behave very well these days. Leaving the Marina after the fireworks this year, we saw a very oversized truck literally drive over the basketball court while several boys were playing ball, past us and almost hit 2 people trying to beat cars out of the parking lot! I reported it to 2 police officers who looked completely exhausted and frustrated by the whole event. It’s a very bad idea to have any large additional events at Compo!