nothin New Haven Independent | Foote Park Trail Named for Tiskus Father and…

Foote Park Trail Named for Tiskus Father and Son

Bill O’Brien Photo

The end of an era was recognized recently with the unveiling of Joe Tiskus Way,” a trail dedicated to a father and son who served almost half a century as park managers at Foote Park. 

The late Wallace H. Foote established The Foote Family Charitable Trust” in 1966 and instructed the trustees to purchase real estate to be used for parks and recreation for the benefits only of the inhabitants of the Town of Branford and their guests.” The 44.6 acre site was acquired and the park was opened in 1970 with Joe Tiskus, Sr. hired as the first manager.

The trust later retained Joe Jr. in 1990 to manage the park after his father passed away. He held that position until the trustee, Bank of America, opted to transfer the property to the Town and to the town’s recreation department, an action finalized by the town in December 2015. Joe retired the following month. 

Now the end of that long stretch of loyalty and dedication has officially been recognized. A Foote Park trail has been named Joe Tiskus Way,” after the father and son who managed the park for 47 years.

Bill O’Brien Photo

When I was a youngster I was always here,” said Alex Palluzzi, Jr. (pictured), the town’s. Director of Recreation. I was too young to appreciate how Foote Park started back then. To me it was always there and it was a great park to play at. Mr. Tiskus (Sr.) was always there and the park was always neat and clean and such a great place to play baseball and softball along with basketball and tennis, not to mention the playground swings and slides.”

And for 25 years, from 1990 to 2015, the tradition continued with the younger Joe Tiskus taking over for his dad and managing the park with great dedication and pride, “ Palluzzi said.

Bill O’Brien Photo

First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove presented Joe Jr. with an aerial photo of the park.

Bill O’Brien Photo

Then the chairman of the recreation department’s board, Paul Criscuolo, presented him with a plaque recognizing his many years of service.

The highlight of the brief ceremony was the unveiling of the sign on the fence pointing to the direction walkers can follow to see the beautiful park that Tiskus father and son maintained for so many years for town residents and their guests.

Bill O’Brien Photo

Joe Jr. unveils the a father-son sign that has been installed at Foote Park.

Joe Jr., who was accompanied by his fiancée Bonita Roggow and his daughter Jennifer Mastrianni, was touched by the dedication and thanked Paluzzi and the staff of the recreation department who now maintain the park.

I now have closure for the many years I was at the park,” he said. 

Bill O’Brien Photo

Then they gathered in front of the new Joe Tiskus Way” sign. 

###

Sign up for our morning newsletter

Don't want to miss a single Independent article? Sign up for our daily email newsletter! Click here for more info.


Post a Comment

Commenting has closed for this entry

Comments

Avatar for jennmast

Avatar for joetjr