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Tonawanda council names Broad Street park for longtime parks director Linda Foles
Summary
The Tonawanda Common Council voted to rename the park at 279 Broad Street for Linda S. Foles, who served the city’s parks department for more than 41 years. The name takes effect Jan. 1, 2025; family members attended and offered to fund a sign.
The Tonawanda Common Council voted to rename the park at 279 Broad Street “Linda S. Foles Park,” adopting Resolution No. 4 on a roll-call vote and setting the name to take effect Jan. 1, 2025. The resolution notes Foles’s service to the city from March 1978 through July 2019 and her role as recreation director and founder of the Tonawanda Gateway Harbor Corporation.
During public comment, a speaker identifying himself as Chris Olls of 28 Broad Street urged the council to approve the renaming and said the family will pay for the park sign and can provide design plans in advance. Councilmember Fisher thanked the family for attending and noted the naming will be a recurring recognition on the calendar.
Council members discussed technicalities of sign acceptance during earlier agenda work: donors would pay for and donate a wooden-style sign that, if accepted, becomes city property and the city would then be responsible for maintenance. Staff said a formal agreement would be completed before installation and that site and sign size would be reviewed to confirm acceptability.
The resolution text recorded at the meeting lists the service dates and organizational contributions credited to Foles and passed by recorded roll call; council members present voted "Aye" on the measure. The council did not discuss any alteration to the park’s use or funding as part of the naming action.
The council also noted plans to install the sign in spring 2025 pending final review of its design and dimensions and completion of any donation agreement.
