Westport Safe Roads

Introducing the Westport Chair Trail!
A Westport Safe Roads + Arts Initiative

Westport-Wadhams is utilizing arts and a groundswell of community stakeholders to install custom community-painted Westport Chairs at key locations in town, creating both authentic Westport-style pride of place for locals and surprise and delight for visitors alike! The May 2024 launch of the Westport Chair Trail and town-wide crosswalk painting are part of a multi-layered, multi-year effort to calm traffic down through the enhancement of Westport’s visual and cultural experience.

The Phase One project budget is $2,500 to cover the construction of up to eight extra-large Westport chairs, plus paint and any installation costs. Unused or extra funding received from this fundraising phase will be utilized for Phase Two, as well as monies held for ongoing five-year annual costs to maintain the chairs after installation. Your financial contribution through GoFundMe will help achieve this goal! If you prefer to send a check, it can be made out to Westport-Wadhams Community Alliance, PO Box 394, Westport, NY. 12993.

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YOU’RE INVITED: Join Opening Night of the Westport Chair Trail from 6-8pm on Friday, May 10. Opening remarks are at the Heritage House on Main St. and then all are invited to walk the 2-mile Westport Chair Trail together. Come stroll with fellow neighbors and meet the artists while celebrating our Walkable Westport!

The Westport Chair Trail features larger-than-life Westport Chairs that are custom-painted by the community. The Westport Chair Trail serves as a prominent town-wide reminder not to rush, but to move slow and steady through Westport. It will also be a pedestrian-friendly attraction (and an amazing photo-op!) available as an online/downloadable trail map that features the locations, the artists’ statements and their themes – coming soon!


Here’s a draft Westport Chair Trail Map. Stay tuned, there are more – including a satellite location – coming soon!

Contact jenbutson@gmail.com, if you’d like to join or lead a community team to paint a chair, recommend a location to place a chair in town, or make any other suggestions! There are printed coloring sheets (download here) if you’d like to draw out your ideas! Watch Facebook’s “What’s Happening in Westport” for progress updates. Thanks!

The Westport Chair Trail is intended to increase drivers’ awareness and pedestrian safety, building a more Walkable Westport while adding to our town’s artful beauty, touching on our past, present, and future. These chairs will be placed throughout Westport from Spring to Fall for several years. Check out our feature story in The Sun newspaper and happy trails!