Surrounded by five generations of the Wright family, the Westport Island selectmen and planning board finally cut the ribbon on the Wright Landing project June 10. The landing was dedicated to the late Mary and Adrien Wright, who gave the town first right refusal on purchasing the land.
“You should all be proud, “said Bill Wright, the son of Mary and Adrien, “This is a wonderful thing to happen to Westport Island. Thank you so much for dedicating this place to my mum and dad.”
Kicked off by a local bluegrass band and a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance by Cub Scout Pack 201, the dedication ceremony was attended by over 80 people from the Wright family and Westport Island community. Braving the rain, those in attendance listened attentively to speeches from Selectman George Richardson, Planning Board Chairman Ruth Nelson, and Bill Wright, who grew up in the area with his parents for whom the landing is named.
The dedication was particularly powerful for Wright, who spent his childhood playing along the riverbank that would eventually become the Wright Landing. The land was purchased by his grandparents and then passed down to their children. Wright expressed his joy at seeing the area turned into a launching point for boats.
“I can’t imagine a town surrounded by such a beautiful river not to have a boat landing,” said Wright.
Adrien and Mary Wright explicitly stated in their will that the Town of Westport Island should have first rights in purchasing the property. This act was the culmination of decades of service to the community. Bill Wright recalled that his parents would encourage fisherman and wormers to park on their property when they left for work.
“They worked hard on this property, but it was a labor of love,” said Wright.
Despite Westport Island’s right to the land, Wright Landing almost never was: the project faced a protracted and costly lawsuit from some of the town’s residents. While the plaintiffs initially claimed that the landing would cause a safety hazard at the intersection of Rt. 144 and Ferry Road, they continued their legal battle despite the town addressing such concerns through road widening projects.
The Wright Landing project was tied up in court for two years before Westport Island was given the go ahead to complete work on the boat launch. Much of the initial funding for the project went to paying legal fees.
Though work on the boat launch has been completed, other efforts to improve the area are still ongoing. The town recently received a $104,500 grant from the Department of Transportation to build a 155 x 6 foot jetty alongside the landing. Beautification efforts are also underway.
A Wright Landing Maintenance Fund has been created to keep the grounds in proper shape. Those wishing to donate to the fund can contact George Richardson Jr. or Susan Partelow at 882-8477.
