Jennifer Johnson, her husband and 2 daughters moved to Westport in 2006.
She has worked in financial services, and for open space and land preservation organizations.
Jennifer has served on Westport’s Westport Parks & Recreation Commission, Compo Beach Site Improvement Committee, and is an executive committee member for the South Western Regional Planning Agency. She was a director of the Westport Transit District, and is a member of the Representative Town Meeting.
Following a recent vote by the legislative body, she writes:
Last month the RTM and Board of Finance voted to approve an expenditure of $5.58 million to rebuild 2 tidal gates at Sherwood Mill Pond.
The funding also includes rebuilding the pedestrian walkway that connects Sherwood Mill Beach to Compo Cove. There is a locked gate on the eastern end of the walkway. It was installed by Cove residents, and prevents public access to the Compo Mill Cove pathway along the southeastern shore of the Mill Pond.
Locked gate at the entrance to Compo Cove.
During the RTM meeting, questions arose regarding the gate: Why is it locked? Why can’t pedestrians walk along the Compo Mill Cove pathway like they used to? What about access to the mean high water line that belongs to all residents? Can the plan for the new taxpayer-funded walkway include some form of reclaimed access to the Compo Mill Cove pathway and/or tideland that is now blocked by the gate?
Given that the funding approval was time-sensitive, the RTM correctly approved the funding and tabled the pedestrian access issue. With the funding secured and the construction period deferred until spring, now is the time for Westport to find a solution to reclaim pedestrian access to the Compo Mill Cove pathway and tidelands once enjoyed by all, not just the dozen or so homeowners who live there (some part time).
While rebuilding the tide gate and walkway is both expensive and complicated, regaining public access to the Compo Mill Cove pathway and/or tidelands should be fairly straightforward.
Compo Cove residents should simply agree to open the gate between sunrise and sunset (an easy solution that could be programmed into the gate’s lock). Since the public is paying the hefty price tag to fund the walkway’s reconstruction — a walkway that Cove residents rely on to access their property — this seems like a fair and reasonable tradeoff.
Pedestrian path, and Compo Cove. The locked gate is near the bottom of the photo.
This simple solution reflects an increasing trend across the country. Private property owners are granting pedestrian easements to their land, for the express purpose of allowing the public to respectfully walk across a defined pathway during daylight hours.
The public historically had access, until the locked gate appeared about 20 years ago. As the years passed, and one by one the island’s historic bungalows were replaced with sizable rebuilds (like this $12.250 million recent listing), public access vanished.
I anticipate some Cove residents may raise security concerns. But those could readily be addressed by a police camera at the gate and/or residents installing readily-available security systems, if they haven’t already. The timed gate — combined with the general lack of car access — should prevent any opportunities for mischief, beyond the kinds of things beach residents typically contend with currently.
Alternatively, the town could initiate a small project to construct access points from the rebuilt walkway to the tidal land along either side of the walkway. This solution would only provide access at low tide. But some access is better than none.
If you are interested in joining this effort, please send contact information to millpondwalkway@gmail.com.
Aerial view of Compo Cove, with Sherwood Mill Pond (top). The arrow shows the gate location.
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If its completely regular taxpayer funded work, the public should have access. how exactly did that gate end up there? is it legal/permitted? if not, why not just tear it down? That said, doesnt Saugatuck shores have additional tax levied? that helps fund things like the bridge there? A possible fair solution is to tax the specific home/land owners that utilize that bridge to cover the $5m in work. Finally, I think its insane how these houses still exist and have been built/rebuilt given their location that is susceptible to floods/storms.
Is this the same neighborhood where the residents wanted permanent free parking spots because they were all converting their garages to useable home space?
A few of these residents raised holy hell at being asked to pay for parking in the Town-owned lot. Maybe it is time to review what they are being charged for that?
I 100% share Joshua Stein’s curiosity as to by what authority private residents are locking the gate to a bridge that taxpayers will pay for.
My family grew up at Compo Cove in summers and there was always public access to the paths until the mid 1980s when new residents insisted on hiring a guard to screen pedestrians at the very site of today’s locked gate. Cove residents debated the merits of harsh or mild wording on a private property sign, but it was inevitable that fear would win out and that a gate would be installed. Good luck untying this knot.
I completely agree w/ Ms. Johnson. This used to be a beautiful and enjoyable part of my walks down at Compo. And if the town is paying for access, then that access shouldn’t end at a locked gate.
It’s an ugly trend to limit access to a section of waterfront for the exclusive use of a handful of houses. An added insult that town taxpayers are footing the bill for the reconstruction of the walkway to the locked off area! Thank you, Jennifer Johnson, for writing this piece. Please let us know, Dan or Jennifer, when there are public meetings on this.
Start by putting members of the RTM and BOF and 1st Selectperson on the record regarding their position on public access to public space on Compo Cove. Then remind them that 11/4/2025 will be here before you know it.
Jenny Johnson is 100% correct. If the Town of Westport is paying to rebuild the bridge, then all residents of the Town of Westport should have access.
Thanks for writing this piece, Jen, and for your continued advocacy on this issue! I hope we will hear some commitment from the First Selectwoman to work on a solution to this and not just let status quo prevail now that funds have been approved.
Interesting! As I understand it…. Town owns infrastructure leading to gate? But, town under no obligation to keep up the bridge? If that’s the case, how much of the $5.5 million is ear marked for a bridge that only benefits a private island? It seems the owners have a right to keep the island private but the town has the equal right to ask them to fund their bridge unless a deal is struck? Do I state this correctly? ( but, presumably if islanders paid for bridge, pedestrians might well be locked out at the beginning of the bridge….).
Agree, if the town indeed has leverage to get reasonable access, why not try?
Jen is so very correct in what she is seeking. Indeed, Jen is involved in many issues that seek to improve the quality of life in Westport, including access to public areas and the means to get to public areas. Hopefully, there will be minimal to no objections by the homeowners at Compo Cove. I used to occasionally walk past the then unlocked gate. There were very few of us who did. If the gate cannot be unlocked, then certainly the path for low tide access that Jennifer suggests might be an acceptable alternative. I believe such a path would cross land owned by the Jeff Northrop family trust. I think Jeff would be supportive, particularly since he already allows people who fish to stand on his land as they cast their lines into the Sound and the Mill Pond Preserve.
Don Bergmann
Relevant to this discussion, something like 10 of the roughly 20 properties on Compo Mill Cove, including a number of contiguous properties, have been gradually acquired by a single entity, at a total cost of many millions of dollars. This is a public record on Westport’s GIS system.
what is that entity?
According to the town GIS database, 8 of 20 Cove Mill properties are owned by Cove Dog LLC. There is one principal listed for this business, according tonState of CT Business Recird Search: (https://service.ct.gov/business/s/onlinebusinesssearch?businessNameEn=mn2WGkDg7%2F2RrBx9ql2Gk8B6w8HmVSH0Nwd92mu0tak%3D)
the principal appears to be a lawyer? who is the actual owner? are these properties all basically a commercial enterprise where they are being rented out?
ok i think i figured it out, peter muller is listed on several public town and state documents for those properties. is he renting them out or enjoying them personally?
We actually took a stroll down there just the other month, and sad to see we couldn’t walk there. I live on a private street where we need to fund servicing the road. If the town is paying for servicing this area, it makes sense that the community should also be able to enjoy it. I like the idea of having it open from Sunrise to Sunset. That’s a great idea!
It is so interesting to find out the history of our town properties. Whenever I walked on the bridge there, I always felt like I was almost trespassing. Now I find out that’s not even close to being true. That location is one of the most beautiful spots to enjoy on the pond. I like some previous commenters wonder who had the authorities to erect that locked gate? thank you Jennifer for your continued straightforward fair approach to governance.
I apologize if I overlooked this in the article but what’s the tidal gate vs walkway cost? Tidal gate could be footed by the town and the walkway can be by the private property residents.
With a 100 million$ elementary school on the table, are we gonna spend some more money? Lord, what is the % of town employee pensions funded at? We don’t have the luxury, unlike the federal government, of just printing some more money when needed or desired.
Moreover .. the safety issue ..in the event of an emergency, how do first responders access people / homes if there’s a locked gate?
They have the code, I’m sure. And there is emergency access via Sherwood Island at the other end, too.
Jennifer Johnson is absolutely right: the public deserves access. And Kristin Schneeman is right too: the administration needs to step up and fix this mess–not just sit back and hope that it goes away. It’s not fair to taxpayers. Why should tax dollars be used to create a private club? Shame on the administration for letting it get this far.
Thank you for your leadership Jennifer. I am glad you are keeping the issue front and center after the funding approval. Is it a topic that could be submitted to RTM?
Thank you Ms. Johnson! This is perfectly explained, in simple terms. Unlick the gate!
Compo Mill Cove is a beautiful piece of Westport paradise, and one of my favorite places. Back in about 1991 it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places as Mill Cove Historic District. The small beach bungalows of that era are long gone, but the plaque commemorating this designation remains on the locked gate.
I live on a private cul-de-sac, where 5 property owners share responsibility to maintain it. We have other many neighbors walking down and around our “circle.” I invite kids to ride their bikes round and round. It’s not Compo Mill Cove, but it is a popular little jog on the routine walks and rides of many.
Compo Mill Cove may include a lot of private property owners (one of whom owns 8 parcels), but unlike my cul-de-sac, it is bordered by a public waterway and beachfront. Public access to this piece of gorgeous shoreline should not be impeded.
Unlock the gate.
Did I miss something ? Westport community gardens is history ? Did something happen ?
Eeyore. ?
Thank god for our residents who stay current on and reveal the day to day ongoing corruption.
There is lots of it. Hard to keep up.
Thanks Jen, you work so hard to keep it all fair and transparent.
Ciara, no worries. The WCG is not history. “Brian” is the notorious 06880 imposter, our own fake-ID Luigi.
And You seem to be a mashup of the Tinman, Scarecrow and Lion. If only you had a heart, a brain, and the courage to identify yourself.
Right on, Jen. I couldn’t agree more. Your leadership and concern for the taxpayers is much appreciated!
The Compo Cove Walkway actually connects to Sherwood Island where there is a gated entrance from which deliveries such as fuel are frequently delivered to Compo Cove. Burial Hill to Sherwood Island to Compo Cove and on to Compo is achievable on foot.
can someone explain why the tidal gates are necessary? why cant there just be a bridge without the gates? are they actually in use and preventing flooding? if so, preventing flooding of what? does the oyster farm need them ?
Tidal gates are crucial to the health of the Mill Pond. A few decades ago, it was an ecological disaster. They helped save it.
Joshua, The tidal gates are a remnant from when there was a mill and it used tidal water to grind flower. On the incoming tide there was enough flow and the gates retained water for the out going tide. Now there is an oyster farm and they need the water. Additionally you can go from the Mill Pond to Burying Hill Beach following the water path and this is an important ecosystem. I did this regularly growing and I have shared a number of times this is an under appreciated jewel in Westport.
So why doesnt Northrop chip in?
I presume he is a taxpayer so he already does. I have no dog in this fight as I left in 1974 and our cottage was sold a number of years later. I do have intimate knowledge of the Mill pond however and its value to the town. Sadly the Mill pond is gotten very shallow over the years with sand due to the state’s jetty at Sherwood Island. In actuality one good hurricane or severe winter storm and the mill race could close. These houses are built on a sandbar and have always been vulnerable to storms. YMMV