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!
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