A Westport resident’s hefty fine for a waterfront violation (unlicensed structure near the shoreline) is being put to good use with the restoration of the 200-year-old Adamsville Landing on the Westport River’s East Branch near the Westport/Little Compton line not far short of Adamsville village.

Sean Leach of SITEC Engineering gave Westport selectmen their first look at the project last week, a project that will benefit residents of both Westport and Little Compton who can use the landing. The property is owned by Westport and overseen by the town’s Landing Commission.

“The landing hasn’t had a lot of work done on it, at least in my lifetime,” and it shows, Mr. Leach said.

The gravel road leading in from Old Harbor Road has “more potholes than the city of Fall River … it is a very poor landing.”

“People have been parking along the river and launching kayaks or boats haphazardly all through the salt marsh,” a practice that damages the marsh.

“But thanks to a person, I’ll call him a donor, who had to pay a fine to the state,” the project will be totally funded without town expense, Mr. Leach said.

His plan calls for improving the roadway with a clamshell surface down to a landing facility, and a system that provides “regulated parking.” A couple of overlook benches will be installed along with landscaping.

Jeff Bull of the Landing Commission noted that Adamsville Landing is not for use by boats on trailers — “it’s not for backing trailers, even for a once a season back the boat in.” Water depths, the river bottom and salt marshes don’t make that practical.

“It is intended for kayaks and canoes,” a use that has been increasing in recent years.