To the editor:

A narrative is being woven wherein disabled people throughout Westport have been denied, for decades, the simple pleasure of a visit to the beach by heartless opponents of handicapped access. In a recent Westport Shorelines, Martin Costa is shown standing triumphantly on a blue mobi mat at Beach Avenue in spite of “all those opponents who shouted down the need for handicapped access to Westport’s beautiful beaches.”

Who are “all those” awful, pitiless people who want to keep Mr. Costa and others with limited mobility from enjoying the beach? I’m doing my best to remember ever hearing anyone shout down the need for handicapped beach access. I’ve attended a lot of meetings about Beach Avenue. I’ve read a lot of words on the subject, even written a few. But I’m coming up with nothing. This is disappointing because it would really be gratifying to identify those despicable people, and have at ‘em.

Could it be they don’t exist? Could it be that there simply might be those who have a different opinion of how handicapped beach access should be realized? Those who have raised their voices in concern over the rough treatment of the Beach Avenue barrier beach? Those who hope we can work together to figure out a way to both restore the dunes and vegetation that town bulldozers ripped out two years ago, and to also allow for continued disabled access?

Well, count me among one of those. I am one who wants also to see a wheel chair-baby carriage-little red wagon hauling a cooler access ramp onto the town-owned lot at Beach Avenue, near where all the parking is located.  I’m one who thinks mobi mats at East Beach and Gooseberry, and along the sand road to Cherry & Webb would be helpful for a lot of Westporters, handicapped or not. And, I’m one who believes that the provision of excellent, free handicapped access at Horseneck Beach State Reservation doesn’t absolve the town of its obligation.

While I’m at it, I’d like to stand up as one who very much wanted to see sidewalks in Central Village. Too bad about “all those” who shouted down that sensible, state-funded project.

I’m happy for Mr. Costa who wrote that, until now, he’d not been to a Westport beach in 30 years. But, I’d also caution him to be careful what he weaves, as a lot of good for a lot of Westporters can get trapped and die there.

Surely we can strengthen a critically important barrier beach while still providing handicapped access to the area. Many other coastal towns and cities have done it, and done it well. We can, too.

Constance B. Gee

Westport