November 2024
Current Status Report From The Steering Committee

As the season ends, the Steering Committee would like to update you on our efforts to find a positive resolution for future gardening seasons for the Westport Community Gardens. The committee continues to seek answers from town officials, the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Long Lots School Building Committee to understand more concretely what our options are. Currently, we don’t know the location or size of a rebuilt garden at the current Hyde Lane space once construction is completed.

The Tooker administration is asking us to relinquish the Hyde Lane location and start over at Baron’s South. There is no plan for that Baron's South location. They have offered to work with us in the potential design of what a new garden may look like there. Baron’s South, however, comes with many unresolved logistical problems including sun, soil, sloped land, fencing, invasive plants, tree cutting, maintenance, neighbors, an affordable housing proposal and parking.  Additionally, financial issues such as budgeting remain unclear. Finally, an approval process which contains no guarantees must work its way through many branches of town government. We heard from many members at the open meeting on Sunday, November 10, and noted many similar concerns, questions, comments and deep reservations about the viability of a garden at Baron’s South.

 It is the judgement of the Steering Committee majority that, until we have more details regarding the Hyde Lane garden option, it would be unwise to rush to any decision at this juncture. We will continue to gather information and press for answers.

Furthermore, we are continuing to communicate with town officials for guidance regarding the possibility, and/or duration, of what a garden season at Hyde Lane might look like in 2025. We will continue to seek a timeline for the school construction as it may or may not offer us some additional gardening time at our current Hyde Lane location.

 Lastly, as there are so many unanswered questions, it is our recommendation that individual garden items that you don’t wish to lose should be removed from your garden plots by the end of 2024, just in case. 

A message from the chairman

The Westport Community Gardens is a beautiful place, magical at times and challenging as well. Perhaps the dichotomy of the Gardens is what I find so appealing. It is so much work and brings us so much pleasure. Every year, intertwined so closely, are our myriad successes and failures.

Lou Weinberg, Chairman

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