Editor’s note: following is an opinion submitted by Don O’Day, Long Lots Building Committee Member, RTM District 3 Member and Candidate for First Selectman.
I understand the deep attachment you and your fellow gardeners feel toward the Westport Community Garden (WCG). You built something special, and the entire town recognizes the pride and care that went into it.
But, after significant public awareness and more than fifty public meetings with extensive public comment, the issue of Westport’s effort to build the new Long Lots and Stepping Stones School came to a vote.
The land use decision by Planning and Zoning was unanimous – a brand-new school and a reconstructed athletic field would be built on 13 Hyde Lane where the current school and the Community Garden are currently located.
The decisions to move forward with the entire site (both school and fields) by Westport’s Flood and Erosion Control Board and Conservation Commission were unanimous.
The Architectural Review Board reviewed the Building Committee’s design plan and supported it unanimously.
The Board of Finance and the RTM voted to approve the largest expenditure in the history of Westport (both school and fields), with full knowledge that the plans did not include a rebuilt Community Gardens on the Long Lots site. The votes were unanimous.
The voting around this project has always assumed that a new Community Garden would be built in town. It will be! The new Parks and Recreation Director has been actively involved with discussions with Community Garden representatives in a search for a new home that is satisfactory to all.
I, along with Andrea Moore, fully support the effort to build a new Garden. My commitment to you is that when we take office next month, we will make it a priority for the Parks and Rec Director to make it happen.
I also wanted to share just a few comments and responses to the Open Letter to me. It is important to me that the Gardeners and the public know the facts.
First, there was a meeting in October of 2023. An offer was made to move the Community Gardens to Baron’s South. The response was a promised fight to the bitter end by the two Steering Committee members present to keep the Gardens at Long Lots. That uncollaborative response has been disputed by Mr. Weinberg. But his denial rings hollow. In fact, his actions since that meeting have been nothing short of fighting to the end. He is still fighting a battle that has been unanimously decided.
Below is an excerpt of an email that Mr. Weinberg sent to his Gardeners on Friday of this week. That is not just fighting to the bitter end, it’s fighting BEYOND the bitter end. Mr. Weinberg’s public words do not match his behind-the-scenes campaign.
From: Westport Community Garden
Subject: PLEASE READ – An Open Letter to Don O’Day
Date: October 17, 2025 at 11:58:20 AM EDT
Dear Gardeners:
I have submitted the Open Letter to Don O’Day (below) to Dan Woog’s 06880 Blog for publication. Dan has agreed to publish it with Mr. O’Day’s response. This will happen in the next couple of days.
I am asking that you read it and, when Dan publishes it, that you respond to it immediately with a comment in support of the facts stated in this letter. If you have 10 people on your email contacts that you would be comfortable sending it to, please do that and request that they respond to Dan’s publication as well. Whether we like it or not, social media matters and your response on Dan’s blog matters.
I know many of you are burnt out from our effort to save the Westport Community Gardens and Long Lots Preserve. PLEASE don’t give up. We still have a chance for a future if Don O’Day does not get elected as our First Selectman. I will be writing to you shortly on that matter as well.
Lou
Second, Mr. Weinberg’s position was always to keep the gardens in place at Long Lots and ACCESSIBLE during construction. This position was central to the flyer that was distributed on Election Day of 2023. In a construction zone for a 128,000 sq ft new school with another school operating on the campus, every square foot of that property will be used and highly restricted with safety being the most important rule. This may be the most unreasonable and unrealistic view of all by Mr. Weinberg.
The town has moved forward, the Building Committee has moved forward, the Boards and Commissions have moved forward (unanimously) and we have, just this week, broken ground for the new school. It is time for Mr. Weinberg to move forward.
A new Garden will be built – that is my commitment to all of you. A new school will be built – that is my commitment to the Long Lots and Stepping Stones Community and the Town of Westport. Andrea and I will not engage in this vengeance tour, no matter how long it lasts.
Respectfully,
Don O’Day
Long Lots Building Committee Member
RTM District 3 Member
Candidate for First Selectman
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