Jesup Green has been in the news lately. Plans to add parking spots at the top — and, later, more green space near the Saugatuck River — have sparked controversy.
The small park in the center of town has long been a gathering spot, for joyful celebrations and solemn ceremonies.
For decades, it was the end point for the Memorial Day parade. Speeches, patriotic songs and 21-gun salutes followed (as kids rode their bikes in the parking lot, and the Good Humor man did a brisk business).
In 1965, Staples student Adam Stolpen delivered the Memorial Day address. Others in the photo include Westport resident and former Connecticut Governor John Davis Lodge (Navy cap) and World War I veteran and grand marshal E.O. Nigel Cholmeley-Jones (in uniform).
In August of 2013, Jesup Green was packed for a different type of ceremony.
Hundreds of Westporters honored the town’s Little League all-stars. They’d just returned from the Little League World Series, where they made a magical run all the way to the finals.
Jeb Backus marveled, “As a 3rd-generation Westporter living here for 50 years, this was the most special town event I have ever attended. Absolutely amazing.”
(Photo/Jeb Backus)
NOTE: That’s not the first connection between Jesup Green and Little League. In the 1950s and ’60s, there was a baseball diamond a few yards away — near where the Westport Library is now.
And next to both: the town dump. I’m not making this up.
More recently, Jesup Green has been the site of rallies: for Black Lives Matter, and against anti-Asian and antisemitic incidents.
It’s also where Westport Pride holds its LGBTQ+ celebration every June.
Local clergy members on Jesup Green, at Westport Pride.
Jesup Green is where Westporters gather, in good times and bad.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945 — exactly 79 years ago today.
Two days later, stores throughout Westport closed.
Residents headed to the green. They sang “America,” “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” and “Abide With Me.”
Veterans fired a military salute. The somber sounds of “Taps” filled the air.
As it had been for decades — and continues to be today, Jesup Green was Westport’s town square.
(Courtesy of Cindy Buckley)
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The Little League field was “Rogers Field” . It sat just about where the main library building is now. It was definitely there when I was in JHS. (1966-68).It then morphed in landfill and then transfer station. I cannot believe that carving out even part of Jesup Green for parking is even being contemplated.
Hopefully, pictures of what “Jesup ‘Green’ used to look like” won’t be part of a future Friday Flashback story.
I’m photographing the trees for a future Friday Flashback. Come be in the group photo under the Jesup trees on Sunday at noon! Bring your picnic blanket or rain umbrella, as the situation warrants. Let’s give Dan a Future Friday Flashback before they cut down the trees to pave paradise.
Take the FDR flyer, keep just the top part above FDR’s picture.
Add a “2025” and it’ll be the perfect memorial flyer for this historic Green.
” Paved Parking Lot
Don’t It Always Seem to Go
Till You Don’t Know What You Got
Till Its GONE “
Anyone please explain-
Why not just build what could be a mostly hidden double decker facility in the Baldwin lot- adding tons of parking spaces in the middle of town where it is needed! Then spruce up Parker Harding and finally keep Jesup Green a green with its trees.
More parking, less cost and preserve the Green.
Win- Win- Win!
Agree with all of the above!
I remember watching I Love Lucy as a child, as a mini-todd if you will. When I saw the episode about Jesup Green and the minuteman statue, I felt as if Westport was the center of the known universe. I still feel that way.
You can knock me down
Stand on my face
Drag my name all over the place
You can do what you want
Just lay off the trees at that green space.
Those trees have been there since I was child.
Personally I would prefer them to remain. Obviously its not all about me. However, the parking garage is a separate issue.
If I was the select person or in those meetings, I would put a freeze on all downtown parking lot changes, until such time as someone started making sense.
Do you ever get the feeling they are suggesting these changes just for the sake of it. I guess that is the inherent problem with an implementation committee. They need to implement no matter what. How bout this, how bout that. The premise is wrong.
They are really just an ideas committee.
Too many action verbs in title for appointed people with no experience. Their arrogance is unmatched as well. Well, i am more arrogant. But im not im the committee, so i can just criticize from the stands. They shouldnt be making it so easy for me to do so.
that is an incorrect statement – the DPIC Committee has many experienced professionals – planners, engineers, architects, lawyers, marketing, and Public Safety personnel etc on the team. Please look at the plans and see that Jesup Green will be enlarged, not made smaller; the green will reach the riverbank, there will be less paving and a more attractive place for everyone to enjoy.
No Deirdre( and you are on dpic) it will not be enlarged, at least lord knows when. Let us not mislead our very upset town residents.
“Some day over the rainbow” is not enough. That day could be 20 years away.
Anybody who is a professional planner knows perfectly well that with a town on its knees regarding parking the phased planning should have clearly added parking first ( and not by destroying existing green space so our tantrum throwing administration and some members of DPIC can be pleasured.
And by the way for a committee chock full of professionals your committee sure managed to make an absolute pigs ear of this simple project !
I doubt you have done your daytime job opportunities any favors.
A kindergartener could have come up with a better plan.
It would appear that the premise of this redevelopment is to increase the amount of available parking in and near to downtown Westport. But that is really nothing more than wishful thinking. No matter what you do, the number of parking spaces will be fixed but the potential number of vehicles seeking spaces will always exceed the available capacity. In fact, increasing the number of spaces will attract even more folks seeking to park. You’ll be out of available space by the time the pavement is dry. Convince me I’m wrong.
Tell me, why is it that every tiny amount of green space in Westport must be continually under attack by people and their cars? How about the grass between Main Street and Bedford Elementary School, I mean, “town hall”. Why not pave that?
Who decided that cars were more important than this historic and irreplaceable space and trees?
A properly single level parking deck at the Baldwin lot on Elm can accomodate 100 cars, not add even 8 foot of elevation to the Elm street entrance and most likely cost less on a desgn build bid basis than what is now proposed for the destruction of Jesip Green and parking lot conversion of the much more valuable multi use space at the Imperial lot.
Step on the brake here and now and make a better downtown parking solution for the better benefit of all in Westport.
Why would they suggest the elimination of the cut through if they had any experience with downtown Westport parking issues?
The towns folk have to constantly rise up and shoot down their ideas. My time cost money.
Marketing? Ho ho ho, i would call it a consistently mis branding. Everybody thinks they can sell Westport, sell it out.
West
Port
Ho ho ho
Lawyers dont no sht about parking downtown. Planners, ho ho ho, they changed the plans ten times. If they are so good why do they need 600000 for consultants. Please dont insult my intelligence by suggesting the dpic has any professional authority or expertise in this matter, they are un paid amateurs, winging it blindly.
I dont even need to look at the plans. The idea that cutting down the trees at Jesup Green is the first part of their plan tells me all I need to know.
Now look, I’m sure each person individually has some sort of professional qualifications. I’m sure they are great or what have you. But Ive been knockin around downtown for fifty years Deirdre, great name by the way, and I like how you have come to their defense, however, ever since Sigrid Schultz told me how the town was treating her, in regards to the the parking lot, I knew something was wrong in Denmark. That was 1977.
Then wouldnt you know it, Drew Friedman told me the exact same thing in 2003, using the exact same language, that cemented it in my mind, exactly what the problem was and is.
I like to have fun with these chats so dont be offended. But this committee, in many of its formations over the decades has consistently missed the most important aspect of their mission.
Thats why parking has gotten worse and worse every year, the way I see it, over the decades, from my perspective.
So you see, from my perspective, my statement stands. But I thank you for taking the time.
Absolutely Todd !
SAVE JESUP GREEN
To paraphrase nearby Redding resident, Mark Twain:
It’s the land; they’re not making any more.
The Town is planning on consolidating Police, Fire and EMS at one large location yet to be determined. The RTM recently approved funding for study regarding this proposal. Any plan for parking should also include the added availability of parking due to the Police Dept relocating.