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Retiring leader leaves imprint on Mill Creek
By Elise Franco
Canfield
Tom Bresko decided more than three decades ago to turn down a job with United Airlines for one at Mill Creek MetroParks, and he never looked back.
Bresko will leave his 36-year career Friday. He said he has mixed feelings about what he’s leaving behind but not about what lies ahead.
“I’ve had this terrific opportunity to serve my community, and I enjoyed that time,” he said. “But it’s time to move on to the next chapter of my life.”
That next chapter, Bresko said, includes visiting the park as a community member and spending more time with his fianc e.
“I look forward to what I know is going to be an exciting future for me,” he said.
Bresko’s career at the MetroParks began unexpectedly.
After graduating from Ohio State University, he was mowing grass and cleaning rest rooms part time in 1977 and nearly ready to accept a job with United Airlines when Bresko said the park’s recreation director stepped down suddenly.
“They called me and asked if I wanted the job,” he said. “I believed in taking that one small step to get started, but I look back now, and go ‘Wow. I had a pretty good run.’”
Bresko said though he served as interim executive director for nearly two years, and most recently, deputy director, his proudest accomplishment was spending 32 years as recreation director.
“It’s where I had my most satisfying accomplishments,” he said. “I’m proud of the level of service I sought to provide to the public. We can’t please everyone, but we should try.”
As recreation director Bresko is credited with shaping and expanding programming and events throughout the MetroParks, including putting Wick Recreation Area among the MetroParks’ most popular spots.
Ray Novotny, manager of Ford Nature Center, compared Bresko to the parks’ first recreation director Walter School.
“Nobody made more friends for the park better than [School,] and working with Tom for 25 years, I would say that he really continued that legacy,” Novotny said. “He made friends for the park through his personality, through his programming.”
Bresko said increasing programming was necessary to keep the public content. He said he lived by the quote, “Recreation is the inspiration for the destination.”
“I used that quote to build attractions that brought people into the park,” he said. “Park usage has changed over the years ... They used to just come and walk and picnic. Now they want to be attracted to the park.”
One such attraction is Sunset at the Farm, an event that drew between 2,000 and 3,000 people to the MetroParks Farm in mid-September.
Novotny said that’s just one of dozens of examples of Bresko’s hard work.
“He really encouraged special events. I think that’s his signature,” he said. “[Tom] really started it all. The ones I have done since then have been the best experience of my career, and he allowed me to do it.”
Linda Kostka, marketing and development director, said Bresko is also a wealth of knowledge.
“He has this sense of MetroParks history,” she said. “All I need to do is ask, and he knows the answer.”
Kostka said Bresko isn’t just known for his professional dedication, and he will be sorely missed.
“He’s a real character,” she said. “His presence, not being here, will definitely leave a big hole.”
Jay Macejko, Youngstown city prosecutor and MetroParks board member, said Bresko was an important part of daily life at the park.
“I think Tom Bresko is an exceptional employee whose leadership will be missed,” he said. “He truly stepped up in difficult times for the park, and he’ll always be appreciated.”
Bresko said more than the job, he will miss his co-workers.
“I have, really, an extended family here,” he said. “I wouldn’t have had as satisfying a career here without these people.”