A new community garden at Burr Farms. At least 2 synthetic turf fields. Some upgrades to Compo Beach and Winslow Park. A dedicated maintenance facility.
Those were some of the key “Phase I” recommendations for Westport’s Parks & Recreation Department, offered last night as part of the new Parks Master Plan.
The Town Hall event was the third public session for BL Companies, the consultants who have undertaken an independent review of the town’s beaches, parks and playing fields.
Thirty residents — including a number of elected officials — heard Dominick Celtruda offer a “10,000-foot” view of current facilities and operations, and 3 phases for the future.
Parks & Recreation director Erik Barbieri, last night at Town Hall. (Photo/Dan Woog)
Specifically, Phase I priorities involve:
- Infrastructure upgrades, including maintenance; a multi-purpose field at the Doubleday complex, and a minimum of 2 synthetic fields. BL Companies urges a balance between natural grass and artificial turf surfaces.
- The Community Garden at Burr Farms would share space with a 50 x 70 multi-purpose athletic field, as well as restroom facilities for gardeners and field users.
- Upgraded trails and a dedicated dog area at Winslow Park.
- At Compo Beach: Upgraded pickleball (site TBD), a relocated skate park, reconfigured internal circulation, and dune restoration.
Phase II would include Baron’s South — for example upgraded access, vegetation management, removal of invasives, and a small percentage of space dedicated to semi-active recreation.
Phase III would focus on Luciano Park, Jesup Green, other parks, and the Town Hall athletic fields.
Celtruda emphasized that these are recommendations only. Parks & Recreation director Erik Barbieri noted that while BL offers important insights, he “may not necessarily agree” with all of the recommendations, or their timing.
“Nothing is set in stone,” he noted. His department, and the Parks & Recreation Commission, will continue to assess the report.
Materials from last night’s meeting will be available soon on the Parks & Recreation Department website. The current draft of the Master Plan is available online here.
Cover of the Parks & Recreation Department Master Plan.
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I have a question: why does the town-owned open space on Green’s Farms Road known as the West Parish Meeting House State Archaeological Preserve not appear on the roster in the Master Plan?
Baron’s South needs help- such a shame it’s been sitting idle.
A shame that the priority once again shifts to spend millions more at the beach and once again relegate any improvements downtown to a low priority, after millions were spent on plans to improve.
2 plastic fields (synthetic turf = plastic) contain 40 TONS
of plastic. They must be replaced every 8 -10 years with 40 more tons of plastic blades. Since they are not permitted in landfills for safety reasons, they must be disposed of by being buried elsewhere, contaminating the ground and water there.
The hazards of micro- and nano-plastics to our health (see the Netflix documentary on infertility; the many scientific reports on cancers and endocrine disruptions, the recent studies showing the links to global warming, the antibiotic-resistant germs that proliferate there, the heat they generate, and much more) are by now well established.
A town that prides itself on commitment to environmental responsibility and prioritizing public health , a town that prides itself on having been among the first to ban plastic bags and single-use plastics, a town where about a third of the population uses private wells planning to lay out 40 (more) tons of plastic on our land? That’s 7,320,000 plastic bags. And we already have 4 of these fields. You can do the math. And of course they are considerably more expensive than hardy grass fields.
How many Westporters will be served by these fields? How many will be harmed? Magical thinking is not a solution.
Regarding Barons South: before pubic accessibility is restored, it is necessary to remove the town’s enormous stockpile of dirty fill contaminated with the DDT breakdown element DDE, asbestos and concern levels of arsenic. It’s not just a flagrant zoning violation, it’s a public health hazard. The RTM was told by the First Selectman, on the record, that it would it would be responsibly removed in 90 days. I believe that was in 2018.
When is the RTM going to pass an ordinance about turf fields? I appreciate all the research that that’s presented by some of our esteemed RTM members, but the ordinance is the only way to protect our waterways and the environment. I also believe the science points to the health hazards of using turf fields, and I believe an ordinance would protect the health of children.
The bottom line is it worth the risk to their health even if you feel the science is not conclusive?
Fake plastic fields.
I don’t want my tax dollars used to desecrate the land and water of the town in which I choose to live and support.
If parents choose to expose their children to toxins while at play, please do it away from those of us who want to protect human lives and the environment. And do it on someone else’s dime.
Fake Plastic fields. It wears us out. https://music.apple.com/us/album/fake-plastic-trees/1097862703?i=1097862845