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05/01/2016 08:05 PMBranford’s recent acquisition of Foote Park has resulted in some upgrades residents will appreciate and notice this season.
Some changes are subtle, such as trees pruned and gardening work. Others are instantly noticeable, including four completely renovated hardscape tennis courts, a newly renovated outdoor basketball court, and the addition of a third softball field to create what is now Branford Softball League’s home turf.
The park on Melrose Avenue opened 45 years ago and was managed privately for many decades by the Wallace A. Foote Charitable Trust, as one of several ways to honor the legacy of Wallace “Wally” Foote in Branford. In fall 2015, the bank managing the park on behalf of the trust became interested in divesting of the park property and approached the Town of Branford. First Selectman James B. Cosgrove said there was no question in his mind about the benefits of taking on the park as town property. The park was purchased by the Town of Branford for $1 in December 2015.
“We wanted to make sure we secured it as a park for Branford residents and future generations,” said Cosgrove. “The Town of Branford has been very fortunate. Through the generosity of the Foote Family Trust, they built this park and maintained it, really at no cost to the town, for 45 years.”
Cosgrove added, in all of those years, “We’ve kind of taken it for granted, and certainly, given the fact that the town now owns it, I think we shouldn’t take these things for granted. We have to maintain and value them. By tying it even more into more Parks & Recreation programs, I think it will create a broader awareness of the park that’s down there. It’s such a great location. You don’t find many municipal parks like this.”
Under the new agreement, the Foote Trust continues to oversee an endowment (about $10 million in 2015) that includes a provision allowing for a portion of income to be distributed annually to maintain and operate the parks. The town will make yearly grant applications to the trust for funding for park needs. The 44.6 acres of the Foote properties (the town also took in smaller Foote Riverside Park on Pine Orchard Road) have been folded into the town’s park inventory and maintenance programming.
Branford Parks & Recreation Director Alex Palluzzi is excited to share news of work that’s been undertaken since the beginning of the year to upgrade Foote Park’s recreational space. The upgrades arrive thanks to funding support of approximately $200,000 from the Foote Charitable Trust and work by Parks & Recreation employees, including some extensive effort by employee Butch Cote, and with a big assist from Branford Public Works, led by Director Thomas Brennan.
Palluzzi said while some major renovations have been undertaken this year, in many cases, Foote Park simply needed “a little attention,” such as tree work to remove old trees and others battered by a “rough winter.
“We don’t want to lose sight of what the trustees have done over 45 years, and the work of Joe Tiskus, Jr., and his staff, and his father, Joe Tiskus, Sr., before him. They were great caretakers ,” said Palluzzi.
The trust also recently completed a $150,000 conduit-to-conduit lighting upgrade for the park’s walkway lighting. However, town ownership brings a huge economy of scale to what had become a major annual cost to Foote Trust: park maintenance. Converting the park to town hands has relieved the trust of approximately $340,000 in annual Foote Park/Foote Riverside Park maintenance expenses, including private employees and equipment maintenance. While the town couldn’t take on the park’s former private employees full time, part-time work was offered, but no takers came forward, said Palluzzi.
Since taking over the park, the town has aimed the trust’s first flush of funding at maintenance and upgrade priorities. The most noticeable fix has been the complete renovation of the park’s four asphalt tennis courts, which were taken “down to the base,” said Palluzzi.
The newly-installed surfaces, painted blue and green, are striped for regulation and 10-and under court tennis. Plans are underway to encourage lessons and even tournaments at Foote Park. Palluzzi said some of those plans will be assisted by a U.S. Court Tennis Association grant finalized by Palluzzi with Parks & Recreation’s Andrea Kenney and Branford resident Paul Gagliardi, a high-school level tennis coach.
In addition to the four renovated courts, Foote Park also has eight clay tennis courts. The clay courts are favored by residents and are being maintained for play, with future upgrades on the to-do list. Eight clay courts is a notably high number for a municipal park, Palluzzi said.
Another Foote Park hardscape court taken down to the base and completely resurfaced, repainted, and striped, is the outdoor basketball court, noted Palluzzi.
Additional fixes that regulars will notice include work to renovate and repaint the popular half-courts at the tennis “wall.” The courts now have striping for conventional tennis, 10-and-under tennis, and a popular new sport, Pickle Ball.
A major upgrade to the park’s playing fields is the transformation of an underused Little League ball field into Foote Park’s third softball field, located between the park’s two original softball fields. Having three softball fields at one facility allows the town to create a daylight Softball complex. Last weekend, Branford Girls Softball League celebrated Opening Day at Foote Park. As an added bonus, it’s right next-door to Branford’s Little League complex at Sliney Park, said Palluzzi.
“I think a lot of parents are going to love it because now it’s one-stop shopping,” said Palluzzi. “When you come to watch the girls play softball, you only have to walk across the park to see Little League playing, instead of driving across town for games at other parks.”
For now, softball night games will be played under the lights at Veterans Field. A few years back, colonies of monk parrots nesting in Foote Park’s outdoor field lighting forced the decision to take the lights down. Restoring that lighting is one of the town’s future plans for the park.
Other facilities at Foote Park include an outbuilding with public restrooms, a maintenance garage, and office space; a toddler’s playscape area; a larger children’s playscape and playground area; an outdoor volleyball court; lighted and paved walking trails; an amphitheater; a pavilion overlooking the Branford River; and ample parking (with a valid town residency pass ).
Branford Park & Recreation’s award-winning organic field maintenance practices continue at Foote Park. The park will be open for year-round use with many new recreation programs and events to be added, such as an anticipated community picnic. While Foote Park has been closed in winter months during past years, many residents, especially those who love the park’s system of interconnected footpaths, have visited Foote Park in off months, said Palluzzi.
“We’re finding out it is a year-long park ,” said Palluzzi. “And as much as we’re excited to have it be an active park, we also want to keep it as a passive park, because there are an amazing number of people who come to walk here. They utilize this park in all different weather.”
Cosgrove said residents should make a point of visiting Foote Park, even if only to take in the natural beauty of the property.
“I would encourage everyone to just take ride down there, take a walk, see the views and just enjoy it,” said Cosgrove. “This is what it’s there for. The intention of Wally Foote was for the enjoyment of Branford residents, so we should honor his intentions, and utilize it to the fullest.”