By Monique Roth
L’Observateur

LAPLACE — Previously known as simply the Highway 51 Park, the St. John the Baptist Parish Council unanimously voted to rename the popular park location Thomas F. Daley Memorial Park in honor of the longtime parish district attorney who died earlier this year.

Council members praised Daley at the Feb. 24 Council meeting for his dedication to the parish and his commitment to keeping the parish beautiful in a resolution that stated, in part, “our community was greatly served by … Daley’s passion and desire to make a difference.”

For many years, Daley served as chairman of Keep St. John Beautiful and the St. John Shade Tree Committee.

“Tom was a true public servant who impacted the lives of so many people across this state,” Councilman Michael Wright said. “We felt this was fitting for Tom, as he was a monumental fixture in the Keep St. John Beautiful campaign.”

The resolution said “Daley’s legacy will long be remembered and is worthy of honor. Daley’s dedication to his community was reflected in his well-known passion for protecting green space, tree planting endeavors, litter cleanup campaigns, civic involvement and so much more.”

Daley, a licensed attorney for 36 years, was a long time public servant who worked as an assistant district attorney, district court judge and appellate court judge. He most recently served as district attorney of St. John Parish. He died Jan. 31.

“My dad had a passion to work hard and keep St. John beautiful,” Monique Daley, Tom’s daughter, said at the Council meeting. “I hope when people see his name (on the plaque) they will be inspired to keep St. John beautiful.”

Councilwoman Jaclyn Hotard and Wright proposed the resolution, and earlier in February they joined friends and members of Daley’s family to plant a magnolia tree in his honor at the LaPlace park that will now bear his name.

“Tom’s legacy will live on in St. John,” Wright said.