I grew up in Westport and moved back here almost four years ago when my older son turned one. As a child, it was at the Y where I learned to swim, took Judo classes, attended after-school programs for sports, art projects and music, bonded with my father through Indian Guides and went to the upstairs gym with my parents where I tried to keep up with them on the wooden indoor track.

I also attended Camp Mahackeno and used the ropes course there on several school trips over the years. Thirty years later, my son learned to swim in the Brophy Pool, just like I had.

The Y is absolutely critical to our wonderful town and has provided countless townspeople with myriads of experiences and opportunities to enhance their lives and well-being. The Y caters to people of all ages, physical and mental capabilities and income levels. We cannot live without it and yet we cannot live with the downtown facilities that have existed well before I learned to swim there as a little boy.

I fully support building a new Y and support locating it on the grounds of Camp Mahackeno where the Y already owns the land and where the surrounding neighborhoods already deal with Merritt Parkway traffic.

Eric Schwartzman, Westport


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