Like a pretty woman with a missing front tooth, the appearance of downtown Wilton is marred by the vacant lot in the middle of Main Street. At the Apple Festival last month there were many appealing things to do and see, but you had to feel sorry for entertainers playing their music in that dismal space. Now the town's Main Street Association wants to buy the lot and create a terraced riverside park with lawns, trees, benches, and a center stage. Three parking spaces would provide a temporary loading area and handicap parking. The park might go a long way toward reviving the fortunes of downtown Wilton by not only eliminating an eyesore, but also adding to the town's New England charm.
Money is a problem, however.
Organizers are hoping people will search their attics and barns for items to donate, and then come to the auction and spend money. It's too bad Wilton merchants are not 100 percent behind the park plan. And according to the Main Street survey taken in May, most people do not find parking in Wilton to be a significant problem. We know of no one who finds it difficult to park in downtown Wilton. Lot 48 has been empty for about four decades, and if Main Street is unable to raise the money, the eyesore might be there for decades to come.