After Jennifer Johnson published an Opinion piece on “06880” last tweek, urging open access to Compo Mill Cove in exchange for the town’s expenditure of $5.58 million to rebuild 2 tidal gates at Sherwood Mill Pond, leading to the Cove’s pedestrian pathway, and homes, dozens of readers contacted her.
Many offered to help support removing the locked gate and “Private Property/No Trespassing” sign, installed over a decade ago.
Johnson — a Representative Town Meeting member — thanked each one. She’s organizing a Google group, and will set up a Zoom meeting for early January.
She was particularly touched by a note from someone who no longer lives here. Lynn Castelli wrote:
I am a former resident of Compo Beach. From 1956 to 1982 my parents, Albert and Ruth Castelli, owned the property at 7 Soundview Drive. As a child and teenager, one my greatest pleasures (and now fondest memories) was walking from my home to Sherwood Island via the sandy path beyond the Mill Pond sluice gates.
Tidal gate at Sherwood Mill Pond (Photo/Paul Delano)
Growing up on Compo Beach I often walked the coastline from my home, over the jetty, over the boulders, along the shore to Old Mill Beach and then onto the bridge above the sluice gates. There I would stand to rest and watch the rushing waters from the Mill Pond flow beneath me. Then I proceeded to the quiet, sandy path that led me to Sherwood Island.
There has been no other place in my lifetime that has filled me with as much joy and wonder as did this small strip of coastline. Practically at our front door and beyond, the waters of Long Island Sound sparkled clear and teemed with life.
My father and I fished and harvested mussels, oysters and clams. There was abundant bird life everywhere. I saw my first seahorse at Old Mill Beach. The sands between the Mill Pond and Sherwood Island were a treasure trove of clam, oyster, scallop shells and sea glass. It saddens me to think that others are deprived access to the magic of the Mill Pond walkway.
Compo Cove, and the pedestrain path. When Lynn Castelli was young, the homes were much smaller.
Sentiment may not win the day in the attempt to unlock the gate to the walkway. But I hope that words still have the power to move those in whose hands this decision rests. Surely I am not alone in my reverence for the beauty to be found between the shores of Old Mill Beach, the gate to the Mill Pond walkway and beyond to Sherwood Island.
I sincerely hope that the Mill Pond walkway will once again be accessible. I would love to know that other children and their families might experience the enchantment to be found there. Too, I would be overjoyed to learn that I may return to Old Mill Beach and retrace my steps to Sherwood Island.
Thank you for sparing the time to read my message. I hope that by sharing my perspective others will understand more deeply what residents who stand outside the gate might gain by having access.
Experiences in nature, especially for children, are life-altering. The path from Compo Beach to Sherwood Island was an adventure I was delighted to repeat and share with my friends and family over and over again.
I was fortunate to be able to pass freely onto the path beyond the Mill Pond. May others pass freely in the future.
Old Mill, Sherwood Mill Pond, and Compo Cove (right). (Drone photo/Brandon Malin)
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If the town is considering spending 5 million dollars of my tax money then complete access must be a requirement.. period! I don’t see how this gateway has been locked by some “ better than you” individuals.
I have read about the rebuilding of the dam and bridge at Compo Cove and those questioning the propriety of a public expenditure that benefits only a very limited few.
While I fully support the rebuilding of the dam that arguably benefits the general public, I cannot see the justification for the bridge to nowhere as far as the general public is concerned since it clearly benefits only those who reside beyond the gate.
Some might argue the bridge is necessary for maintenance of the dam, but to that I would respond that a catwalk accessible only to maintenance personnel and locked at both ends would serve that same purpose.
If the residents across the bridge truly believe it to be a “private island,” then grant them their wish, make the bridge into a catwalk locked at both ends accessible only for maintenance personnel, and let the residents of the “private island” row out to their exclusive island. Alternatively, they could seek access from the State of Connecticut through Sherwood Island State Park.
It would seem to me that Town has all the leverage here, and it should not let the bridge project as planned proceed without some accommodation such as has been suggested for general public access beyond the existing gate. Otherwise, the taxpaying general public is financing Westport’s own “Bridge to Nowhere.”
Amen.
Tear down that gate‼️🇺🇸
I’m not positive, but I think there’s also a gate now leading from the island to Sherwood Island.
Yes, there is a large, locked gate… Construction, service, and maintenance vehicles access the houses on Old Mill through Sherwood Island.
The letter that Jennifer Johnson received and submitted to 06880 is especially beautiful, as is the area of space which is described. Thank you Jen Johnson and to all those who will be working with Jennifer to achieve something that will retrace our history and bring even more beauty to Westport.
the residents of Compo Cove would be crazy to not insist on keeping gates fr sherwood island to that neighbourhood closed But fr WSPT into Compo Cove maybe in exchange for $6M tax dollars do gates open 8a-4p (there’s a similar enough issue in NYC greenwich village NYU neighbourhood, i.e., ultimately NYU agreed to keep the gates on a particular block that’s very historical and ‘great for selfies’ open to the public but only fr 8a – 4p.
I grew up living at 4 Old Mill Road during the 50’s and 60’s. Many of my memories come from swimming at “the bridges”, and exploring the area around the Mill Pond. I used to catch blue crabs and sell them to Allen’s Clam House.
At that time, the homes at Compo Cove were occupied seasonally, summer only. The homes were beach houses and not winterized. Everyone in town had access to the path behind those homes.
When I visited Westport about eight years ago, I was perplexed when I walked across the bridges and came to the locked gate.
I’m not sure about the ownership of the pathway between the gate and Sherwood Island State Park, but I am assuming the Town of Westport owns the bridges and the tidal gates since it is using public funds to maintain and replace them. Does the Town own the pathway as well? Is there any maintenance done on the pathway itself?
It seems that the Westport that I grew up in, with small beachfront homes, now known as teardowns, is being supplanted with large, fancy homes, where entitled people want much of the public places for themselves.
The waterfront and tidal areas of Westport are one if it’s greatest assets. Hopefully, access to Compo Cove can be restored.
I lived on the Cove for 10 yrs, only recently moved. The “path” past the locked gate is owned by the Compo Mill Cove Association. It’s private property and the sidewalk, berm, drainage etc is all maintained by the Association via (quite hefty) HOA dues. The Town of Westport does not maintain or own that area. My understanding of why the gate was installed was twofold- privacy and liability. People who were not residents had fallen on icy sidewalks, trespassed on private property.
It was one of my favorite spots to walk. I grew up on Compo beach and Old Mill. My kids spent days there fishing and swimming.
Then years ago I noticed how residents glared at anyone who walked down the path.
I was shocked when I walked there and saw the gate. I never felt comfortable walking there again even though I know it is public.