Where will the Sherwood Mill Pond Preserve be located?

The address is 191 Hillspoint Ave. in Westport, the former location of Allen’s Clam House restaurant.  It is a short walk from Old Mill Beach and the eating establishments near Compo Cove.  From Compo Beach, you can travel approximately 3/4 of a mile along one of Westport’s most scenic shorelines to arrive at the future Preserve.

Who is paying for the creation of the Sherwood Mill Pond Preserve?

The town is funding the project, but only partially.  Your donations are necessary to complete the project. 

What portion of the costs has the town paid for?

The town has covered the costs of the design and the permitting process and it will fund most of the upcoming site preparation work (grading and excavation).  An additional $35,000 has been raised from several local grant sources, one of which is a matching grant.  However, the town cannot create the Preserve without additional financial help from you. 

Where is the rest of the money coming from?

The remaining money must be raised through an appeal to Westport’s own residents.  This fundraising effort is reminiscent of the public/private collaboration that took place ten years ago when the Clam House property was originally purchased and this important journey was begun.

I donated money ten years ago.  Remind me what that donation was for?

Your money helped the Town of Westport purchase the Clam House property in 1999 to prevent it from falling into the hands of developers.  When the property went up for sale, the town couldn’t afford the full purchase price.  Westporters came to the rescue by reaching into their own wallets to make donations. If not for these donations, the land purchase would not have been possible. When the town took possession of the property, it had no specific plans for how the property was to be used.  It has taken ten years and input from many town bodies for the plan to evolve into the Sherwood Mill Pond Preserve Project.  However, the town cannot create the Preserve without additional financial help from you. 

Why should I support the creation of the Sherwood Mill Pond Preserve?

Your dollars will help build the new Preserve and improve the beauty of Westport and its shoreline.  Additionally, your support will re-establish a lost link to the Sherwood Mill Pond and its historic past.  Donations will also create a new opportunity for our young people to learn about the importance of tidal wetlands and the flora and fauna supported by them.  Most of all, your dollars will provide future generations of Westporters with the chance to create new memories on the banks of the Sherwood Mill Pond and will give residents the opportunity to experience and remember the simple joys that can be gained from the peaceful contemplation of a beautiful view and the natural habitat it embraces. 

The Allen’s Clam House restaurant is no longer on the property – what happened to it?

After the town purchased the property, it was determined that the structural condition of the restaurant was too deteriorated to restore.  Various town bodies agonized over this decision but eventually they agreed that the restaurant and its barn should be demolished.

What’s special about the pond?

The pond is one of Westport's great natural assets. It covers over 80 acres of unspoiled surroundings and comprises over 1% of the total area of the Town of Westport.  It is home to over 70 species of birds and is an integral and unique part of the town's landscape.  The pond was also significant to the settlement and historical development pattern of Westport. The tidal flow from Long Island Sound into and out of the pond was an important source of power in the 18th century and lead to construction of one of the earliest gristmills in the area (rights granted ca. 1705 by the town of Fairfield).  The tidal pond has also hosted fertile and productive oyster beds for more than a century and continues to do so today.

How did the pond get its name?

Members of the Sherwood Family were early settlers on what is now called Sherwood Island (Sherwood Island State Park can be seen across the pond).  The Sherwoods were early owners and operators of the gristmill that once stood near the pond’s tide gates.

When will the work begin on the Preserve and how can I help?

Site excavation and preparation work is expected to begin this September.  Fall is the perfect time for wetland plants to take root so it is hoped that enough money is raised between now and then to begin installing the wetland plants this fall.  The timing for completion of the Preserve will depend on the success of the current fundraising effort and weather conditions.  It is hoped that the remainder of the Preserve will be completed by the end of spring 2010.  The timing of your help is critical.  Please consider making a donation now. 

What will I be able to do and see at the new Sherwood Mill Pond Preserve when it’s completed?

• A large majority of the site, which once served as the restaurant’s parking lot, will be converted back to a salt marsh habitat. 
• The soil will be improved and appropriate native plantings will be installed. 
• A small parking area will remain and walking paths will be created so that visitors can wander through the preserve but not encroach upon the sensitive habitat. 
• There will be a designated area for launching kayaks and canoes. 
• Educational signage will provide information about the pond’s flora and fauna.  The views of the pond and its wildlife will be spectacular. 

 To see the site plan for the Preserve, click here.

Who planned the project and designed the Preserve?

In a way, YOU did.  In 2004, Westport’s Parks & Recreation Commission conducted two public hearings to gather input from residents regarding their vision for the park/preserve.  Based on the residents’ recommendations, the Commission created design goals for the property. The landscape architecture firm, Silvia F. Erskine Associates, was hired to execute the design and it has continued to work with the town through all the design, permitting and implementation phases.  To see the site plan for the Preserve, click here.

Who is spearheading the project now?

A special town committee was appointed in early 2008 to focus specifically on the project and to move it forward.  The committee was called the “191 Hillspoint Road Committee” because the property had no official name at that time.  The Committee consists of two members of the Parks & Recreation Commission, an RTM Member from District 4, and several members of the Sherwood Mill Pond Committee.  The Directors of several Town departments also sit on the committee as ex officio members (Parks & Recreation, Public Works and Conservation).

Who gave the project the “thumbs up?”

Many Westport Commissions, Committees and Boards did.  These included Parks & Recreation, Planning and Zoning, Flood & Erosion, and Conservation.  The project also had to be approved by the CT State Department of Environmental Protection and the Army Corp. of Engineers.

Sounds terrific!  How can I contribute?

Your help is crucial and the timing is critical.  Please consider making an important contribution now. Many levels of giving are possible and your donation is tax-deductible.