Longtime Westporter and noted think-outside-the-box-er Scott Smith has watched the long debate about Westport’s athletic fields.
There are few, compared to neighboring towns. And there very few places to build new ones.
Scott may have a solution. He writes:
The biggest, most convenient site in Westport for ready-made new athletic fields, by far?
Sherwood Island State Park. There are acres and acres of flat grass fields, including a full-sized baseball diamond with rusted backstop, that could easily be refurbished into legit playing grounds for all kinds of sports.
Once upon a time, softball was played here. (Photo/Scott Smith)
These areas are rarely in use during the school year (and most, hardly even in the summer).
Of course, they would have to be equitably shared in any season by all, including local football leagues, rugby clubs and other users.
It’s a public-facility improvement that would not only benefit Westporters in search of new athletic fields to play on, but all Connecticut residents.
There is precedent for the state sharing Sherwood Island with other entities. I love watching the remote airplanes piloted by members of The Country Squire Modelers of Norwalk, a club that has operated by permit in the park since the 1960s.
Country Squire Modelers fly remote planes at Sherwood Island.
What’s more, Friends of Sherwood Island State Park — the nonprofit whose mission is to “preserve, maintain, improve and enhance Sherwood Island State Park for the benefit of the general public” — exists as a possible resource for expertise and connections.
I can’t speak for them, nor for the Westport athletic groups that I expect would be called on to share in the costs of upgrading and helping maintain the fields for their respective sports.
All would have to take part in the necessary negotiations to work out fair usage between town sports groups and others who might want to use them.
Open space at Sherwood Island State Park. (Photo/Scott Smith)
I’ve long heard that “the state” is impossible to deal with. But given the recent botched dealings with the Department of Transportation over the state maintenance facility project, maybe it’s Westport town officials who are the problem?
I don’t want to sound hopelessly naïve. But why wouldn’t we want to explore a public-private partnership with the state that could result in enhanced fields for local athletes of all ages and abilities? Isn’t that what a public park is for?
(“06880” Opinion pages are open to all. Email 06880blog@gmail.com).
Among Sherwood Island State Park’s 232 acres: plenty of flat land.
Maybe this is the right place to be able to put a community garden as well! The issues they have been having finding a good place for the gardens that were torn down at the long lots school property could easily fit in an area at Sherwood Island park. It’s just that it’s not as centrally located. I’m not a gardener though so I don’t know if it is the right kind of location for good growth. It’s just a thought. Or maybe if they are able to move the athletic fields there then there would be room back at long lots for the garden?
Good column. Thank you.
In the intro, Dan Woog states Westport lags behind other communities in the number of fields. I’d like to see that data from our neighbors in Fairfield, Wilton, Redding, etc. or a statistic on fields/capita or fields/kids capita. Otherwise it feels like that ubiquitous statement is unsupported by fact.
Very nice ideas and thoughts.
There would be one huge impediment to trying to this common sense piece of thinking?
It is the word ! STATE !
NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN IN THIS TIED UP IN THEIR BOX
BUREAUCRATS HARTFORD HIDEOUT!
You think the Long Lots School project was rediculous challange?
Try taking on this opportunity and brining it home to Westport!
Best of Luck!
The park is intended to provide recreation and relaxation to all residents of Connecticut, not merely to Westport’s taxpayers. It’s wrong to suggest that Westport’s already privileged and entitled residents should have ANY preference in a State Park.
Very good point.
I don’t know about the accessibility or playability of the baseball field at Sherwood Island State Park, but I do know that Beachside Soccer has always run weekend practices there and that private school cross country meets are frequent occurences in cc season.
I think the “state” is a straw man in these comments.
On the face this seems a solution. But take a beat. Why do Westporters think they should be able to use/develop STATE property set aside for the use of all CT residents? It’s nice that the state has a public beach facility within the Westport borders, but I don’t see how that allows what amounts to a land grab. Work out your local issues locally and leave state land to the actual state of CT, whose citizens are not all Westport residents.
Thanks, Dan. Amy, I think “land grab” is a bit harsh. The question I’m asking is if there’s a possibility for CT citizens who live in Westport to work with the state to help make improvements to the existing, under-used playing fields. Such a partnership could allow these enhanced athletic fields to be then enjoyed by all park users. I can see that as a win-win scenario.
Scott, I think your proposal is well-meaning but ignores the fact that a state park is state property for the use of all CT residents, developed and maintained by all CT taxpayers. Perhaps, “land grab” is a bit harsh, but if individual residents or municipalities pay for/donate/invest/upgrade facilities in a state park…inevitably those parties will feel that they should have priority to use those amenities. and that is antithetical to the reason we have state parks. So while I understand your search for a solution, respectfully, this isn’t it.