Great Island: Be our Guest?

Darien taxpayers have already spent approximately $92 million on Great Island.

The proposed parking lot and a few walking paths may cost us another $3–5 million.

Before we commit to that additional spending, it’s fair to ask:

Should those who use Great Island help cover its operating and maintenance costs, just as users of our Town beaches do?

Right now, the Town's plan is to build the 83-space Great Island parking lot first, and then "wait and see" how it's used (see the July 2 BOS meeting at 23:00).

This means the parking lot is being designed with no access controls – no gate, no system to check resident permits, and no way to collect visitor parking fees. In other words, the default assumption is that Darien taxpayers will subsidize free access for residents and non-residents alike until the Town decides otherwise.

However, if "wait and see" becomes "we need a gate after all," taxpayers will then be asked to pay twice – once to build the parking lot and then again to retrofit it!

Great Island is a unique property. It is a secluded peninsula in a residential neighborhood, so access controls aren't just about collecting fees – they're also a basic security measure that would help protect this extraordinarily valuable public asset and give the Town the ability to manage access.

We all know that Great Island wasn't donated to the Town. I think it is reasonable to require that those who use Great Island help support its operation and maintenance, which is exactly what we ask of our Town beach users. It is also crucial that the Town have a mechanism for protecting both the property and the surrounding neighborhoods.

The parking lot permitting process is expected to begin with the Environmental Protection Commission in early August - so the opportunity to make meaningful changes is quickly disappearing.

If you have an opinion about how Great Island should operate, let the Board of Selectmen know now. Their next meeting is July 27, 2026 @7pm.

Darien taxpayers paid for Great Island. We deserve a voice in how it's managed.