OGDENSBURG – Ogdensburg City Council will consider renaming Hamilton Park after the late Publisher Charles W. Kelly.

The proposal was suggested by the Ogdensburg Historic Commission after reviewing the parks history. While commonly known as Hamilton Street Park, Historian Julie Madlin found that that park, which was converted from a cemetery in the mid-1860s was never officially named.

The commission unanimously recommended the city name the park after Kelly. City council are expected to vote on the measure at the Monday meeting which will start at 7 p.m. at city hall.

Kelly spent more than half a century working for and leading multiple newspapers in St. Lawrence County.

He was responsible for supervision of all St. Lawrence County Newspaper properties including editorial, financial, production, distribution, and general supervision of all publications. In 2010 at age 75, Kelly retired after 56 years of service.

He died in October at age 83.

Kelly was also one of St. Lawrence County’s most prominent community leaders.

He received the Volunteer of the Year Award for his efforts in getting state officials to approve construction Ogdensburg and Riverview Correctional Facility in 1983.

More recently, he led successful efforts to keep the Ogdensburg’s prisons and the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center from closing.

Kelly was also a dedicated public servant including leadership positions with Ogdensburg Boys and Girls Club, Mater Dei College Board of Trustees, Ogdensburg Housing Authority, county and city Democratic committees, St. Lawrence County Cancer Society Board of Directors, Ogdensburg Volunteer Rescue Squad Advisory Board, Greater Ogdensburg Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Community Advisory Board for the Ogdensburg and Riverview Correctional Facilities, A. Barton Hepburn Hospital Development Council, Ogdensburg Catholic Schools Board of Education Wadhams Hall Seminary College Board of Trustees, Ogdensburg Recreation Commission and the St. Lawrence Eastern Ontario Commission.