As reported on MoodyOnTheMarket.com, the qualities of what Tiscornia Park is today and what people will find in the future are up for debate. What’s there now could change when a new Tiscornia Master Plan recommendation is presented to the members of the St. Joseph City Commission, as early as late August/early September.
With the approval of the city commission, the Parks Advisory Board has been developing a master plan for Tiscornia and proposed recommendations call on the city to budget for a larger parking lot; a new, higher capacity gathering pavilion; a maintenance shed; a paved nature path; boundary markers; and an area for food trucks.
Influential industrialist Ed Tiscornia is the son of Lester Tiscornia, the man who donated the swath of land that makes up much of Tiscornia Park today. MoodyOnTheMarket.com spoke with Ed Tiscornia about the current efforts to update the park’s master plan and asked him his thoughts.
In 1965, for $1, Ed said his dad directed the property be conveyed to the city of St. Joseph. At the time, the property was held by the Tiscornia’s company, Auto Specialties Manufacturing Company (AUSCO), and was conveyed under the following conditions:
“…this conveyance is made upon the express condition that if the said party of the second part shall at any time abandon such property or cease to (1) use it for public park purposes only, or (2) maintain it for use of St. Joseph citizens and taxpayers, or (3) designate the property as the ‘Tiscornia Beach,’ or (4) maintain the beach as nearly as possible in its natural state (recognizing that structures for the convenience of the public such as concession stands, bath house facilities, picnic facilities, parking and roadway facilities, and the like, would not be a violation of this provision), then the premises hereby conveyed shall revert to and revest in the said part of the first park, or its successors or assigns…”
The next meeting of the Parks Advisory Board is scheduled for Thursday, August 10 at 8:00 am in the St. Joseph City Commission Chambers at 700 Broad Street in St. Joseph.
