Tag Archives: Winslow Park

Roundup: Mailbox Thefts, Parks & Rec Programs, Voters’ Guide …

Posted on October 21, 2026 | 1 comment

MONDAY NIGHT MAILBOX THEFTS

Yesterday, the Westport Police Department responded to multiple reports of mail stolen overnight from mailboxes, and discarded in several neighborhoods.

Areas include Hillspoint Road, Prospect Road, Greens Farms Road and Compo Beach area.

Police suspect that thieves were seeking items of value and checks, credit cards, etc.

Residents can help reduce opportunities for theft by:

  • Retrieving mail and packages as soon as possible after delivery.
  • Arranging for a trusted neighbor to collect deliveries when away from home.
  • Using secure delivery locations, parcel lockers or signature confirmation when available.
  • Signing up for delivery notifications, and tracking expected packages.
  • Hand delivering any outgoing mail containing checks or sensitive information directly to a post office facility.
  • Arranging for a mail hold when traveling.
  • Installing security cameras or video doorbells to help monitor delivery areas.
  • Reporting suspicious activity around mailboxes, mailrooms, and residential properties.

If you believe your mail or a package has been stolen, report the incident and provide tracking information, delivery confirmations, photographs or video footage.

Residents should also notify the delivery carrier or postal service and contact the sender or retailer regarding missing shipments.

Anyone with information about these incidents should call the WPD: 203-341-6000.

Discarded mail after thefts, in the Compo Beach neighborhood.

PARKS & REC WINTER PROGRAM REGISTRATION BEGINS

Registration has begun, for Parks & Recreation Department winter programs.

They include:

  • Ice skating: Parent and Tot, Tot Basic, Intro to Figure Skating, and Inclusive Skating.
  • Winter tennis: Indoor offerings at Sylvan Tennis Club.
  • Pickleball: Indoor play at Northeast Athletic Center.
  • Aquatics: Westport Swim Club, water polo and lifeguarding classes.

For youth basketball: Click here for grades 2-12. Click here for pre-K and 1st grade.

A water polo clinic over the Thanksgiving holiday, led by Barcelona International Water Polo Academy, focuses on skill development and tactical training.

A new beginner fencing program for ages 10–14 launches in January.

For program details, registration, fees and other information, click here. Questions? Call 203-341-5152.

WAKEMAN, PJ ROMANO LIGHTS: CLARIFICATION

Yesterday, “06880” reported that the Planning & Zoning Commission voted 4-1 on Tuesday to allow lights on Wakeman and PJ Romano Fields.

Two clarifications: commissioner Craig Schiavone asked the Parks & Recreation Commission to ensure that games are not played on nights that there are other student or parent activities planned at Saugatuck Elementary School — not Staples, as originally reported — to cut down on traffic, and ensure adequate parking.

It should be noted too that lights will be allowed Mondays through Saturdays only. There will be no lights on Sundays.

Restrictions on the use of lights at PJ Romano Field, behind Saugatuck Elementary School, will help alleviate traffic concerns. (Drone photo/Brandon Malin)

 

 

 

voter guide to 2026 election: be ballot smart!

Voting is underway. On the ballot: Candidates for governor, Congress, and the Connecticut General Assembly.

Who you gonna vote for? Check out CT Mirror’s comprehensive Voter Guide. It includes candidate information, district maps, and links to the site’s non-profit, non-partisan election coverage. Click here for all you ever wanted to know about today’s state politics. 

Don’t dog it! Check out CT Mirror’s Voter Guide. (Photo/Jo Shields)

Speaking of the election: on Monday, the League of Women Voters Westport hosted a debate with 4th District congressional candidates Jim Himes, Michael Goldstein and Ben Wesley, at the Westport Library.

Click here or below to watch. (Hat tip: Sal Liccione)

positive directions: $125K to PREVENT UNDERAGE DRINKING AND DRUGS

Positive Directions – The Center for Prevention & Counseling has been awarded a 5-year grant of $125,000. The funds, from the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, will expand efforts to prevent underage alcohol and cannabis use in Westport.

The grant builds on a collaboration between Positive Directions, Westport’s Human Services and Police Departments, the Aspetuck Health District, Westport Public Schools, parents and guardians, youth, and other community partners.

The grant will fund a full-time prevention coordinator and youth peer advocate at Positive Directions. It will also support expanded youth leadership opportunities, parent and caregiver education, community awareness efforts, substance-free teen activities, and enhanced prevention strategies.

robo wreckers reach out

This spring, the Staples High School Robotics Club team won the RAINS Drone Competition. as All-Around Champions.

This year, they’re spreading their robotic wings. They’ll compete in Aerial Drone and SeaPerch.

The “Robo Wreckers” are giving back too. Club members are writing an open-source drone curriculum for other Connecticut schools. They hope to get drone kits into schools that can’t afford them.

To make it all happen, they’ve started a GoFundMe. Donations will go toward competition fees, drone kits, parts, travel and more. Click here to help.

Staples Robotics Club

SHERRY JAGERSON’S SUSTAINABLE FOUNTAIN

The new water refill station at Winslow Park has an even newer name.

On Sunday, Sustainable Westport dedicated its contribution to conservation in memory of Sherry Jagerson.

Family, friends and neighbors celebrated the longtime environmental activist.

Earth Animal joined Westport’s Parks & Recreation Department as partners. The many dogs on hand enjoyed natural dog treats, and a basket of earth-friendly toys and accessories.

The Winslow Park refill station is part of UnPlastic Westport, Sustainable Westport’s community-wide effort to reduce single-use plastic. More stations are planned around town. To help fund the next one, click here.

Fill ‘er up! 

 

GOOD VIBEZ FOR GIRLS

Good Vibez is a great idea.

Two Westport moms organize retreats for girls ages 11–15. They build healthy habits, boost confidence, and learn practical tools to help them feel their best, while having fun.

Each retreat is led by a team of professionals. Activities include yoga, mindfulness and meditation, healthy cooking lessons. art projects, group discussions and opportunities for reflection and connection.

The goal is to create a warm, uplifting environment where girls can unplug, recharge, and leave feeling more confident and grounded.

The next retreat is Sunday, November 22 (10:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., Wakeman Town Farm). For more information and registration, click here.

 

CAREER COACH: JOB STRATEGIES, EXCEL, POWERPOINT

The “Career Coach” returns to the Westport Library parking lot tomorrow (Thursday, October 22), for a session on “Job Seeker Strategies for the Digital Age.”

Future sessions include “Excel II” (November 19) and “Intro to PowerPoint” (December 17).

There are 2 sessions ( 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.) each day; both are 2 hours long. Registrants can choose one.

The service is available to people who are exploring career opportunities, actively looking for a job, or seeking additional part-time employment. Click here to reserve a spot.

HALLOWEEN ON HILLANDALE

Today’s spooky Halloween decorating scene comes from the free library at the Hillandale Road/Morningside Drive South corner:

(Photo/Bob Weingarten)

 

OBITUARY: BERNIE ORENSTEIN

Noted television comedy writer and producer, and longtime Westport and Weston resident, Bernie Orenstein died September 14. He was 95.

Throughout his 40-year career he collaborated with stars like Joan Rivers, Dean Martin, Judy Garland, Dick Van Dyke, Marlo Thomas, Redd Foxx and Bing Crosby.

With creative partner Saul Turteltaub he wrote and produced classics including “That Girl,” “The New Dick Van Dyke Show,” “Cosby,” “What’s Happening!!” and
“Sanford and Son.”

Bernie was also a generous mentor and educator, inspiring a new generation of writers and producers through LIU Brooklyn’s TV Writers Studio MFA program.

He is survived by beloved wife Barbara Rhoades Orenstein; children Lisa, Barbara, Jenny and Alec; 8 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Westport Center for Senior Activities.

For an obituary in the Hollywood Reporter, click here.

Bernie Orenstein

 

“WESTPORT … NATURALLY” & SONG OF THE day

“Egrets” — the  7 1/2-foot stainless steel sculpture by Babette Bloch — enhances Canal Park every day.

These days, it too is enhanced — by the trees and plants that surround it. John Maloney’s autumnal shot is a golden addition to our daily “Westport … Naturally” series.

(Photo/John Maloney)

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And finally … mail theft is no laughing matter.

But it did remind us of:

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Pics Of The Day

Posted on September 27, 2026 | Leave a comment

Closing the book on the nor’easter of 2026:

Laddie Lawrence Track, at Staples High School (Photo/Jeff Mitchell)

You could actually dive, at the dive bar (Photo/Spencer Cammeyer)

Compo Beach, near Schlaet’s Point (Photo/Michael Szeto)

Compo Beach neighborhood (Photo/Michael Szeto)

Winslow Park (Photo/Mark Mathias)

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Pics Of The Day #3431

Posted on September 10, 2026 | Leave a comment

One view of Winslow Park … (Photo/Mark Mathias) 

… and another (Photo/Cat Malkin)

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[OPINION] Keep Open Space At Winslow

Posted on September 9, 2026 | 22 comments

Laurie Gilman, a retired editorial and research director, has lived in Westport for 15 years. An avid reader, she recently helped establish the Winslow Book Club. 

She has a significant other of 40 years, many beloved nieces and nephews, and an 8-year-old pug named Charley who was taken in when he was a year old.  Charley walks her around Winslow Park nearly every day. Laurie writes:

We are less than a week away from a vote by the Planning & Zoning Commission on Text Amendment #874. It would alter the zoning laws at Winslow Park in order to build a “dogport” — a fenced area for dogs.

A survey, petition and letters show this is unpopular among dog owners and citizens who want to preserve open space in Westport.

Winslow Park (Photo/Ron Henkin)

The only convincing argument for this project is for dog safety. Gaps remain in the park’s perimeter, where dogs can reach busy roads. Very well thought out, detailed plans have been submitted to the P&Z website that would remove those gaps, and cost Westport less in terms of money and open space.

In addition to ignoring the good ideas to fence the park, a dogport has its own problems with dog safety — for example, dogs being more aggressive in an enclosed area. So we’re pretty sure this isn’t about the issue of dog safety. Far from it.

The amendments explicitly states, “By concentrating off-leash activities into a designated area the proposal helps reduce conflicts between park users, improves predictability for families and walkers, and promotes responsible pet ownership through rules, regulations, and accountability.”

How is it possible to “concentrate” all unleashed dog activity into a dogport when the majority of dog owners at Winslow want to walk with their dogs?  Only if rules are changed that force dog owners into the dog port.

Dogs, on and off leash.

A rule requiring dogs to be leashed throughout the park could happen. But that won’t go far enough, because dog owners will still want to walk their dogs on leash. What is more likely is taking the extraordinary step of denying dog owners access to the rest of the park.

“The proposal helps reduce conflicts between park users.” We think the dog owners at Winslow have a very good relationship with all the other users of the park: kids riding bikes or scooters or sleighing during the winter; parents walking their children who stop to pet our dogs, and people of all ages out getting their walk in.

We have never witnessed a conflict between park users without dogs and those with dogs.  We have seen conflicts between dog owners.  If you were to go to the park today you might find posters of a woman whose dog attacked another dog, and did not take responsibility for the aggressive behavior from her dog.

We are all aware of this incident, and are on the lookout for the owner and her dog if they return. We are a community that acts to keep the park peaceful and protect all its users.

Winslow Park community. (Photo/Cat Malkin)

Finally, a dog port “promotes responsible pet ownership through rules, regulations, and accountability.”  There are already rules and regulations posted at Winslow, and the vast majority of owners follow them. Keeping dog owners accountable seems to imply bad behavior of dogs. That can happen in or outside of a dog port.

We all value the beautiful open space and trails at Winslow. By passing this amendment and “concentrating off-leash activity,” dog owners are rightfully concerned that their access to the rest of the park will end.

It’s not a stretch to imagine other uses of the park will replace us. What those may be should concern all of Westport residents who want to protect the unique and cherished open area that is Winslow.

Laurie Gilman
On behalf of the Friends of Winslow Park

(“06880” Opinion pages are open to all readers. Email submissions to 06880blog@gmail.com. To help support this hyper-local blog, please click here.)

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Hey, Westport: Do We Really Even Need A Dog Park?

Posted on September 1, 2026 | 16 comments

Few topics get our readers’ tongues wagging more than dog stories.

Recent coverage of a text amendment to allow fenced-in areas at town parks drew dozens of comments. We won’t rehash them here.

But one came in after all the others. Most readers missed it.

It was not about whether a dog run is a good idea or not. Nor did it concern safety, aggressive dogs, location or anything else.

It was much more basic. Why, the writer asked, do we need a dog park of any kind? He said:

More than 90% of Westport dwelling units are single family homes. With yards. In all our time there, across 3 homes, all with dogs, not once did we take our dog to the park. We would take our Golden to the beach off season so she could jump in the waves, otherwise they were each pretty happy in their own yards and going on the occasional neighborhood walk.

Winslow Park

Then he doubled down, tossing another town amenity into the mix:

I’ll admit I also don’t understand the draw of the community garden. Each of our 3 homes had gardens, some more successful than others based on the quality of the fencing.

I live on the Upper West Side now so I get the allure of dog parks and community gardens where none of us have yards, but in the 06880 where 90%+ can do this all at home, what’s the need for dedicated public space?

Inadvertently, he answered his own question. A dog park and garden are important for basset hounds and tomatoes, sure.

But they are also about people. About society. About — and the word is right there, in the name of the garden — “community.”

Gardening can be a satisfying, solitary endeavor. But the gardeners formed a real community at Long Lots.

They educated and learned from each other. They admired each other’s plots. They shared the “fruits” of their labors (and vegetables and flowers), socializing together and watching birds and sunsets. They cheered each other’s milestones, and supported each other through personal struggles.

Westport Community Garden (Photo/Lou Weinberg)

Similarly, Winslow Park is a place where dog owners and dogs can gather together.

Humans and canines need companionship (and not just of their own kind — dogs meet other people, and vice versa).

As with the community garden, friendships form across generations. And if you want to be alone — but not feel alone — there’s a place for you.

Some people think a downside of suburbia is that people keep to themselves too much, in their own homes and yards. Community gardens and parks are antidotes to that.

But those are not the only spaces we gather, even if we don’t have to.

Many Westporters have backyard pools. All of us have access to Long Island Sound. Yet we swim at the YMCA and Longshore — sharing lanes and locker rooms.

Aquafit class, at the Westport Weston Family YMCA.

We exercise our bodies, of course. But we also exercise our social muscles.

We can all read or study alone. So why do it at the Westport Library? There is comfort in being surrounded by others — even if we don’t know who they are.

It doesn’t hurt either that — although we can make our own coffee — we can also take a break in the Library Café.

Two of the most popular events “06880” sponsors are the downtown winter and Soundview Avenue summer strolls.

What propels someone to leave a warm home in December, or a backyard pool in July, to walk up and down the street?

Music and food, yes. But the real attraction is other people.

Outdoor dining: more social than eating at home.

I could go on and on. We can worship at home, but we go to a church, synagogue or mosque.

We can eat at home, but we take pride in our many restaurants. And the buzz and vibe that is different — but present — in each.

You — and hopefully the “06880” commenter — get the point.

The question is not whether we “need” a dog park or community garden.

It’s what kind of town, or people, would we be without them?

(“06880” covers every aspect of Westport life — from every angle too. If you enjoy stories like this — or any other feature on this hyper-local blog — please click here to support our work. Thanks!)

 

 

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[OPINION] Simple, Less Costly Alternative Could Address Winslow Dog Safety Concerns

Posted on August 26, 2026 | 18 comments

Brian O’Malley grew up in Weston. A retired marketing executive with Hewlett Packard, IBM and others, he has now lived in Westport for over 40 years.  

He has owned many huskies, all of whom loved Winslow Park. Brian writes:   

There’s a simpler, less costly way to address the safety concerns behind the Winslow Park “Dogport” proposal (the text amendment now before the Planning & Zoning Commission that would allow a fenced dog enclosure in a park that already separates leashed and unleashed areas).

The amendment would change Winslow’s classification, meant to keep town-owned open space unencumbered by structures and reserved for passive recreation. Without P&Z approval, the enclosure cannot be built.

This has become another contentious issue within the Westport community, with more than 60 residents staying for nearly 5 hours at a recent P&Z hearing to voice their views.

Proponents Andrew Colabella and Emme Dorfman argue the enclosure would make the park safer for dogs and owners alike. Andrew points to dogs escaping onto Compo Road North — including a fatal incident — and argues a fenced area would let passive park users avoid off-leash dogs entirely, while letting owners separate small dogs from large ones.

Emme, who developed the idea for a school project, worries her own dogs could get loose at Winslow, adding that no one would be required to use the fenced-in area.

As a near-daily Winslow visitor for over 20 years who has attended every public meeting on this issue, I agree the park has real safety problems. But I don’t agree that a fenced enclosure — and the contentious zoning fight it requires — is the only, or the best, way to solve them.

Responsible ownership and accountability don’t require a fence to exist; they require rules that are enforced, which the town can establish today.

I’m proposing a targeted, lower-cost alternative that needs no zoning change and has already been partially built. After the 2022 fatality on Compo Road North, I worked with the affected family. Twice that summer, I presented a detailed fencing plan to Parks & Recreation.

Fellow dog owners and I began a GoFundMe campaign to cover the cost. Riverside Fence — a contractor with municipal projects from Greenwich to Westport — provided a full quote on May 12, 2022.

The town ultimately did the work itself, but completed only a partial fix, closing wall gaps along a limited stretch near the road rather than the full boundary that was proposed. The town already has a workable, non-zoning solution in hand — it simply hasn’t been finished.

Winslow Park

Three modest steps would complete it, none requiring a zoning change: Finish the remaining 30–40 feet of post-and-rail fencing that separates the leashed and unleashed areas, and add matching mesh; close the remaining stone wall gaps along the east and south meadow on-leash areas near Compo Road North; and install a gated entry at the Playhouse parking lot, the park’s main access point.

Completing this work would fully separate leashed and unleashed areas, resolving the “conflict” and “predictability” concerns proponents raise — concerns that stem largely from how easily dogs move between zones today.  It would also remove conflict risk between families and off-leash dogs in shared spaces like the east meadow sledding hill, and add additional protection for on-leash visitors in the rare event a dog escapes despite a responsible owner’s best efforts.

Pairing this with clear signage — rules posted at every entrance; visible markers at zone boundaries, and a short-term, time-limited increase in enforcement during construction — would round it into a complete safety package.

It comes at a fraction of the cost, maintenance burden, and liability exposure of a permanent enclosure, while preserving the park’s open, unencumbered character for every visitor — not just dog owners.

A documented, funded safety response also carries less liability exposure for the town than an unaddressed, known hazard, and avoids the added upkeep — gate hardware, drainage, worn ground cover — that comes with a permanent enclosure at scale.

Example of transparent mesh fencing that could be used at Winslow Park.

Connecticut’s §8-2 “reasonably related” standard asks whether a zoning change is the least restrictive means necessary to meet a legitimate public need. When a more direct, non-zoning remedy is already funded, documented, and on the table, the Commission should weigh that carefully before amending the town’s zoning code over the objections of so many residents.

If you agree, I encourage you to share your views with the Parks & Recreation Department and the Planning & Zoning Commission before the September 14 vote.

(“06880” Opinion pages are open to all readers. Email submissions to 06880blog@gmail.com. To support this hyper-local blog, please click here. Thank you!)

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P&Z Doggedly Hears Winslow Park Proposal

Posted on August 18, 2026 | 7 comments

“06880” political correspondent John H. Palmer writes:

Should Winslow Park include a fenced-in dog area?

Or should it be left as is: all open space?

If the almost 50 people who stayed on the Planning & Zoning Commission’s Zoom meeting until almost midnight last night prevail, the 30-acre park will stay the way it is.

Commissioners heard public comments about a proposed text amendment. It would allow a change to town regulations surrounding usage at the park.

No vote was taken, and there is no current plan to build a dog park on the site. Debate involved whether town regulations should be altered to allow consideration of a dog park in the future.

The proposal, brought to the commission by Representative Town Meeting member Andrew Colabella and Staples High School senior Emme Dorfman, asks the planners to consider a change that would permit a fenced-in area in the park, which already has sections for leashed and unleashed dogs.

“A fence does not transform the character of the park. It can be a tool to better manage and make it safer,” Colabella said. “If [the vote is] yes, it can allow the commission to discuss a potential change in the use.”

Colabella noted that a fenced-in dog park with rules would create a safer area for dogs. He cited incidents of dogs running onto Compo Road North, being killed by cars.

A separate area would permit passive park users to not be bothered by dogs off leash, he said. It would help contain waste, and allow for sections where smaller dogs can be separated from bigger ones.

Dogs at Winslow Park. (Photo/Tracy Porosoff)

“Enclosed areas increase aggressive because dogs can’t back away,” said Vicki Volper, who has been walking her dogs at Winslow since 1998. “I don’t believe in fenced in dog parks, but definitely not in Winslow Park.”

Dorfman said she worries her 2 dogs will get loose at Winslow. She worked with Colabella on a “Dogport,” to provide an option for dogs much like the town provides playgrounds for different individuals.

“Some people are spreading rumors that the entire park will be fenced off. That’s simply not true,” she said. “Some people simply aren’t comfortable allowing their dogs to run free outside of a fenced-in area. No one would be required to use the fenced in area.”

RTM member Wendy Batteau has had 4 dogs over 39 years in Westport, and walks in Winslow Park daily. To her this is an open space issue. Unless there is a proven need to change things to add value to daily life, the park should stay as it is, she said.

“Winslow Park is not any town park or property,” she noted. “It is dedicated open space, and we need to keep it open space. Why do we need a text amendment to make it a dog park? I don’t think we should be losing our open space for anything but our most serious issues.”

Winslow Park

P&Z chair Paul Lebowitz said dog parks are not an allowed use in Winslow Park, under current town regulations. By changing the text, he said the commission must consider whether or not it would add value to the people in town.

“Anything we do doesn’t automatically approve anything,” he said. “It gives permission to those who might want one to bring it forward.”

He added that in 2023, the commission voted on a similar text amendment that allowed the use of lighting on municipal athletic field in town — a subject debated earlier last night at the P&Z session.

“There’s been tremendous public interest in this, and rightly so,” Lebowitz said.

The issue will be continued at the P&Z’s meeting on Sept. 14.

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[OPINION] Fenced Dog Area: “A Solution Looking For A Problem”

Posted on August 17, 2026 | 36 comments

Ken Bernhard is a longtime Westporter. He spent 8 years representing our town in Connecticut’s General Assembly, rising to assistant minority leader. He was 3rd selectman from 1987 to ’89, then served on the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Ken Bernhard

Bernhard has been a board member of the Westport Library, Visiting Nurse & Hospice of Fairfield County, Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce, Norwalk Human Services Council, Earthplace, Westport Historical Society, Levitt Pavilion, Aspetuck Land Trust, Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation, and Connecticut League of Conservation Voters. He has also worked with Syrian refugees.

In advance of tonight’s Planning & Zoning Commission meeting (6 p.m., Zoom), which includes discussion of a text amendment that would permit a fenced dog area to be located within a park, Bernhard wrote to commissioners:

I am writing to respectfully oppose Text Amendment #874, which would modify §40, Dedicated Open Space and Recreation District #1 to permit 2 fenced recreational dog play areas at Winslow Park.

In my view, this amendment is a solution looking for a problem that does not exist. The existing arrangement at Winslow Park has worked successfully for more than 20 years. One area allows dogs to exercise and play off leash, while another requires dogs to remain leashed.

This arrangement provides a sensible balance and allows different park users to enjoy Winslow Park according to their preferences. Before fundamentally changing a system that has worked for decades, the Commission should identify the specific problem this amendment is intended to address and determine whether that problem exists.

If the concern is that dogs might run into the street, there are far simpler, less expensive, and less intrusive solutions than constructing enclosed dog facilities. A modest fence, wall, or other barrier along the roadway could address that specific safety concern without converting a portion of the park into a confined dog enclosure.

The existing off-leash area of Winslow Park should instead be recognized for what it really is: a people park as much as it is a dog park.

Its value is not simply that dogs are permitted to run free. The existing arrangement allows owners to walk, exercise, socialize, and enjoy the natural surroundings while spending time with their pets. People get exercise alongside their dogs, and the dogs get exercise, socialization, and the opportunity to explore. That combination of human recreation, outdoor exercise, nature, and responsible pet ownership is precisely what makes the existing area so valuable.

Winslow Park is for people too.

This is particularly important as Westport experiences growth in the number of apartment residences. Many new residents, as well as existing residents who live in apartments or other housing without large yards, need accessible places where they can walk and exercise their dogs. Winslow Park serves that need exceptionally well because it allows both people and dogs to get meaningful exercise and socialize together.

A fenced dog run does not provide the same benefit. Once a dog and owner enter a relatively small enclosure, the opportunity for a long walk through the park is eliminated. The owner loses the exercise and enjoyment of walking in the park, while the dog loses the opportunity to explore a larger natural environment.

A fenced dog area would therefore reduce, rather than expand, the recreational value of Winslow Park for many dog owners. The goal should be to encourage people to walk and exercise with their dogs—not simply to provide a place where dogs can be contained.

The proposal is particularly questionable because it calls for 2 separate enclosed areas—one for large dogs and one for small dogs. This distinction makes little sense as a means of promoting safety. Aggressiveness and temperament are matters of individual personality and training, not characteristics that correspond reliably to the size of a dog. Separating dogs simply by size does not address the underlying issue of temperament. And what, exactly, is the plan for medium-sized dogs? Creating arbitrary categories raises more questions than it answers.

Winslow Park (Photo/Ron Henkin)

The proposed location raises additional practical concerns. It does not have convenient parking or a readily available water supply. That makes the location particularly inconvenient for dog owners who want to come to the park to walk and exercise with their dogs. The very feature that makes Winslow Park successful — the opportunity for people and dogs to move through and enjoy a larger natural setting — would be diminished by directing users into a fenced enclosure.

Enclosed dog areas can also become soiled quickly, creating sanitation and maintenance concerns. Concentrating numerous unfamiliar dogs in a confined space can produce tension and conflicts that are less likely to occur when dogs have room to move and interact naturally. These are unnecessary issues to introduce into a park system that currently provides a spacious and natural alternative.

I was a Westport resident when the park was acquired decades ago. A similar proposal was considered around that time by the Parks & Recreation Commission and was rejected. This commission should be cautious about revisiting a proposal that was previously determined to be unnecessary, particularly when the existing system continues to function effectively.

The Winslow Park dog community.

Furthermore, approximately half of Winslow Park remains an area where dogs are required to be leashed. This provides substantial space for residents and visitors who prefer not to encounter unleashed dogs.

Finally, I would strongly oppose any effort to commercialize the proposed fenced area or restrict its use to Westport residents. Such a policy would be discriminatory and unnecessarily unfriendly to people from neighboring communities. Visitors who come to Westport with their dogs are not simply users of our parks; they are also customers of our restaurants, retail stores, and other local businesses. Westport benefits from being a welcoming community, and we should not adopt policies that unnecessarily exclude or stigmatize people who live outside our borders.

Additionally, the enforcement mechanism being proposed by the proponents introduces a new regulatory framework that imposes a cost and logistical burden on residents and non-residents alike.

The commission should preserve what already works well, rather than create an expensive, restrictive facility to address a problem that has not been identified. Winslow Park currently offers something difficult to replicate: a place where people can walk, exercise, enjoy nature, socialize and spend quality time with their dogs, while still providing ample space for those who prefer leashed dogs. It is one of Westport’s assets that helps to make our community both unique and a special place to live.

For these reasons, I respectfully urge the Commission to reject Text Amendment #874, and preserve the existing, successful arrangement at Winslow Park.

(“06880” Opinion pages are open to all. Email submissions to 06880blog@gmail.com. To support “06880” with a tax-deductible contribution, please click here.)

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Dogport Organizer: The Back Story, Where It Stands Now, What’s Ahead

Posted on August 17, 2026 | 12 comments

Tonight’s Planning & Zoning Commission meeting (6 p.m., Zoom) includes discussion of a text amendment that would permit a fenced dog area to be located within a park,

Emme Dorfman — a rising senior at Staples High School — helped devise the plan. Today, she shares background on how the idea began, and where it stands now. She hopes too to clear up some misconceptions. She writes:

I first came up with the idea for a fenced-in dog area at Winslow Park last year, as a junior. For my Rhetoric & Persuasion class, I wrote a speech about why I thought Westport could benefit from having a secure area where dogs could run off leash.

I have 2 dogs. When we take them to Winslow, we are always a little nervous that one could get away.

After the class ended, I decided I wanted to pursue the idea. I connected with Representative Town Meeting (RTM) member Andrew Colabella, who had also been working to bring a fenced-in dog area to Westport.

Winslow Park. Compo Road North is at the bottom. The Park extends further to the south (left), toward the Post Road.

I was probably a little naive at first, maybe because of my age and lack of experience with town government. I thought the idea was pretty simple: Winslow is a large park, so why not fence in a portion of it, giving residents and non-residents the option of using a secure off-leash area if that works better for them and their dogs?

We initially proposed an area at the south end of Winslow. After presenting the idea at a Parks & Recreation Commission meeting, it became clear that many regular Winslow users really value that particular meadow. and that some neighbors across Compo Road also had concerns. While we know there will probably never be a location that everyone agrees on, we heard those concerns and began looking at alternatives.

I also want to clarify that the original south end location was the basis for the survey Mark Mathias conducted and has been shared with so many people.

Since then the proposal has changed, which we will share at the next Parks & Recreation meeting. A few weeks ago, Andrew and I met with David Floyd (Parks & Rec chair).

We discussed a possible location on the opposite end of the park, closer to the Compo parking lot and by Post Road. We think this could address many of the concerns we heard. because it would not interfere with the meadow or the way most people currently use Winslow. It would simply be an additional option for dog owners who want or need a secure place for their dogs to exercise. Nothing is official; we are just exploring other options.

One possible location for the fenced-in area: a section near Compo Road North and the Post Road (behind trees in the photo above). It is currently little used by dogs and walkers.

Because of this, I think it is important to recognize that some of the people currently speaking out based on the survey may be responding to information about a proposal that is no longer being considered.

This project is about giving people options. People who love using Winslow exactly as they do today should continue to do that. No one would be required to use the fenced area or change the way they enjoy the rest of the park.

For residents and non-residents who want or need a secure off-leash option, we think there should be one available. We also believe convenience and accessibility for the people and dogs who would use the area are important considerations, alongside aesthetics.

My grandfather is 80 and can’t easily walk around Winslow, but he would love to be able to get out of his car, bring his dog into a secure area, and let him run and get the exercise he needs. My sister recently hurt her knee playing soccer, but she can still enjoy being there with them if they have a secure place to play.

I also understand that some people have raised the point that Winslow is officially considered a park, rather than a “dog park.” But dogs are already clearly part of how Winslow is used. At the entrance there are dog waste bags, a dog water fountain, and signage specifically addressing dogs and their use of the park. Regardless of the official terminology, Winslow already accommodates people using the park with their dogs. We are simply proposing an additional option within that existing use.

We have also adjusted other parts of our original proposal based on feedback. For example, we initially discussed a key-fob access system. We heard concerns about that, so we are no longer proposing it. Instead, the idea would be for dog owners to have the appropriate vaccination and rabies documentation through the town registration process.

Enforcement has also been raised as a concern. That is something we would continue discussing with the dog warden, who we have spoken with, and the town. The fenced area would have clearly posted rules, and users would be expected to behave responsibly, clean up after their dogs, respect other users and follow those rules, just as people are expected to do throughout Winslow today.

I also wanted to clear up one misconception. My mom was at Winslow today and spoke with people who were circulating a petition. She was told that some people are concerned that the entire park could eventually be fenced in. That has never been part of our proposal. We are proposing one designated fenced-in area within Winslow. As information gets passed from person to person, details can understandably get confused, which is one reason I wanted to send this update.

Additionally, no changes would be made to the on-leash versus off-leash areas. Those rules would remain the same.

(Photo/Mark Mathias)

We haven’t been providing many updates this summer because when we spoke with Parks & Recreation, we were told that things tend to be quieter during the summer and would pick back up in September. Nothing has been decided behind the scenes.

Our next step is tonight’s Planning & Zoning meeting, where we hope to have a text amendment approved. It would simply allow us to move forward with the process; it does not approve a location or a final dog park plan.

If the text amendment passes, the next step would be to develop and present a specific proposal, including the potential new location, and continue gathering input from everyone — residents and non-residents, people who currently use Winslow, neighbors, and people who may not use Winslow today because they don’t feel comfortable having their dogs off leash.

We would really like to work together as we move forward, so that any future survey reflects the most current proposal, and accurately explains what is and isn’t being considered. We don’t want anyone to feel that their concerns haven’t been heard. Many of the changes we are considering are a direct result of listening to those concerns.

What we’ve learned is that people in opposition may speak up more loudly than the people in support. We understand how important it is to listen, adjust, and try to find a solution that works for as many people as possible.

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Posted in Environment, Local politics, Staples HS

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Dogs In Public: What Do Humans Think?

Posted on August 9, 2026 | 34 comments

It’s an increasingly common scene in Westport: a dog on a leash.

But not in Winslow Park, on a sidewalk, or Soundview Drive (skirting by centimeters the no-dogs-on-the-beach rule).

These pooches are in indoor spaces: the post office. Downtown stores. Markets.

Westporters are noticing. A few readers contacted “06880,” asking about the trend.

Shopping at Trader Joe’s.

They raise interesting questions.

  • Why are more people bringing dogs into spaces they’d never take them before?
  • Where and how do owners’ rights intersect with the rights of others to be in a dog-free zone? (A related issue: What about people who for whatever reason don’t like — or are scared of — dogs? Including children?)
  • Do any laws — either actual or social — regulate when, where and why a dog can or should be in a public space?

Dog stories are catnip for “06880” readers. We know there will be many comments. Please keep them civil. Dogs can’t read, but their owners — and non-owners — can. We’re all neighbors.

This is also a great topic for an “06880” survey. Please click here to respond. 

We’ll fetch all the replies, and report back soon.

(If it’s happening in Westport — or people here are talking about it — you’ll find it on “06880.” But we can’t do this without readers’ help. support. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

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Posted in Environment, Westport life

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