Design team outlines draft vision for Darien’s Great Island; public workshop set for May 17

Consultants from Reed Hilderbrand told the Great Island Advisory Committee on March 26 that they are eight months into developing a master plan for Great Island and will present a refined vision at Public Workshop #4 on May 17.

The presentation, delivered by Beka Sturges and Michael Wideman, included participation metrics and early technical findings: the team reported three community engagements with more than 850 attendees, some 5,200 survey responses overall, Workshop #3 attendance of roughly 300 with 79+ written submissions, and Digital Survey #3 with 1,243 respondents. An arborist crew has begun a tree inventory and has counted approximately 3,500 trees so far, with data collection still in progress.

Sturges said the consultants have synthesized community feedback into emerging concepts and will use the May 17 workshop to refine phasing and cost estimates. Wideman reviewed three access and circulation scenarios (A, B and C). He noted public feedback deprioritized parking adjacent to the estate house and favored connected open spaces; for safety, the team recommends at least one causeway be limited to pedestrians. The consultants recommended proceeding with Scenario A for the circulation strategy while noting elements of B and C will remain under consideration.

The team proposed locating long‑term parking near the boathouse and emphasized that early-phase interventions could be expanded later. Next steps listed in the presentation include a GIAC Zoom with JLPD on April 9, a preliminary master plan presentation to GIAC on April 23, and the public workshop on May 17, after which the consultants will refine phasing and costs.

The presentation materials and survey summaries are available through the Great Island Master Plan materials provided by the committee.