Michael Tomashefsky has lived in Westport for 32 years. He spent a career in trade magazine advertising, focusing on development media for Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America.
He has also had side hustles in standup comedy, writing for a rock ‘n’ roll magazine, and landscape photography. Since retiring 2 years ago, he has given landscape and travel presentations of his photos at senior centers and senior communities throughout the area.
Westport never ceases to provide Michael with photography inspiration, included the Parker Harding Plaza footbridge. He writes:
It sits there day after day, year after year, forlorn, neglected, nearly forgotten and overshadowed by the controversy surrounding its larger brother, the Cribari Bridge.
The Parker Harding footbridge … (Photo/John Maloney)
Lord knows, Westport faces many pressing issues — including the future status of that Cribari Bridge, the lack of affordable housing, not enough bike lanes and sidewalks, anemic downtown parking, a disturbing lack of Albanian restaurants, and absolutely no master plan for dealing with a Martian attack.
I would like to raise our collective consciousness by adding to this list the head-scratching demise of the footbridge behind Parker Harding.
The artfully designed wooden plank walkway that juts out into the Saugatuck River has been closed for several years, presumably because it became unsafe.
Prior to that it offered splendid all-season views of the surrounding wetlands, the river, and downtown Westport. It was a haven for photographers, birders, lovers making out and folks simply looking to enjoy the views.
It was one of many attributes that made Westport a special place to live.
Unfortunately, those of us who used to revel in the footbridge’s many delights must continue to stew in season after season of our discontent. It is a classic case of anti-footbridgeloverism.
… with its “Do Not Enter” sign. (Photo/Michael Tomashefsky)
The Public Works Department has advised me that the footbridge is officially on the property of Gorham Island, and repairs are under their jurisdiction.
The agency that manages the property confirmed this, and advised me they would do a cost analysis re making repairs in the next couple of months.
As private money, corporate bureaucracy and state regulations would be involved as well, I doubt we’ll see an open footbridge any time soon.
But heck — if the citizens of Westport could stop the building of a nuclear power plant on Cockenoe Island, surely, we can get the Parker Harding footbridge open.
Citizens unite!
(“06880″‘s Opinion pages are open to all. Email submissions to 06880blog@gmail.com. To support this hyper-local blog, please click here.)
AMEN! and can you explain why the town, the rec, or the DMA can replace two picnic benches at the same location. Embarrasing!
Embarrassing! ( like misspelling on this blog!)
I am sure this will be taken care of after this article. On our circle walks downtown it’s surely missed … we noticed it this winter and thought it was just temporarily closed and we were pretty disappointed. Let’s hope they fix it and no one gets hurt in the meantime. Thank you for sharing Dan and Michael and bringing it to our attention. I’m sure you get beautiful photos , It’s almost like you’re standing in the middle of nature and a beautiful busy town right behind you , so unique.
is he related to Michael Tilson Thomas whose grandfather was the famous Tomashefsky from Jewish theater?
Hi Arlene
My family has no evidence that we are related to MTT & family as underscored by the fact that I have enough trouble conducting myself much less a whole symphony orchestra!
But the Westport Town found $250k to buyout the Compo Food Concession without much debate. Maybe you just have to push the buttons with the right people.
So its private property therefore up to the private property owner. Like it or not. If there was some other agreement or easement made, then someone please do share. Many private property owners do not allow public access to their private property for legal and liability reasons. Sure it would be great for them to restore it but do they want the risk? What if their insurance is significantly higher because of it? Maybe need to get past the knee jerk calling them out and ask for someone to work out a compromise? Maybe the town can offer to take over that part of land and foot bridge? This is all kind of funny because of the taxpayers paying for the Compo Mill Cove footbridge and that HOA is restricting public access.
I’m wondering whether the construction of the pedestrian bridge was a condition of approval when the P&Z approved the corporate building on Gorham Island a few decades ago. That building changed the downtown river-scape forever. Perhaps, back then, the bridge was an attempt to soften the scenic blow and make up for lost access to the river. This would be worth investigating. If it was a condition of approval at the time, was the future maintenance of the structure also a part of the agreement?
Wendy is correct. The answer to the question of maintenance will be in the Conservation Commission records, the P&Z Special Permit records AND the Town Clerk’s records.
Perhaps the staff in any of the three departments will help.
If not, I’ll happily check the records myself on Monday.
Hi Gloria
Thank you for your offer to check the records, please do and let Dan know what you found. This could provide important ammunition for the next steps toward getting the footbridge reopened.
The Parker Harding footbridge is another of those items that an engaged First Selectman could accomplish with a bit of effort. The Gorham Island people were very helpful in making their parking lot available to the public during weekends. My guess is that the Town and Gorham Island can work something out and mutually address the repair cost. I walked the bridge for years. One caution though, try not to approach the issue and implement a fix in a way similar to the delayed and costly work to repair the bridge that leads to Compo Cove homes at the Tidal Gates/Sherwood Mill Pond bridge. In my opinion, that continues to be a very troubled, yet important project being overseen by the Westport Department of Public Works.
I’ve known Mike for close to 30 years and he is one heck of a guy! His design of photography through the camera lens is spectacular and his photos involve you in the image he has captured. Regarding the footbridge, I am sure there are many BSA troops in the area that have up-coming Eagle Scouts who need a project to fulfill their Eagle rank. I know from my past 10 years history as a veteran BSA leader in Connecticut that two scouts can get together and work on a very large project together. My son earned his Eagle rank with the completion of a footbridge over two ponds and he refurbished the trail system around them. I equated him to being the pinball in the town’s pinball machine as he needed to attend multiple meetings, get things signed off before moving onto the next phase but not before presenting a town board with C,D,E,F and G before A,B, and C could be discussed. One of the leaders who oversaw his project was a builder and told him now he knew the glamorous side of the job!
Let’s hope one day the bridge will be open again so we can enjoy what can be seen from it.
Thanks so much for your kind words Jay! Your artistry as a master framer at Rockwell can make just about any photograph or artwork shine.
Great idea about tapping the power of the scouts. Once we figure out the nuts and bolts of jurisdiction, they could definitely have a key role to play.
After numerous decades in Westport and as dog lovers, we chose Wakemannh to walk our labs believing Winslow had “aggressive dogs.” Then we moved to Ridgefield (QUIET!) and found a fenced in play yard with separate spaces for “big dogs” and also “small dogs.” It is also lite at night so BowWow can get his/her evening Constitution completed. Nirvana! I might add, as a distance runner, Winslow would also make a great running track whereby a dirt track with lights would allow runners to run anytime around the circumference of the park at any time instead of the dangerous streets. Houston has such and is a mecca for all 100s of runners at Memorial Park.
Thank you for tapping the baton on this issue, Michael. I hope it helps orchestrate some of the great suggestions for reviving the bridge.
Thanks Phil.