BY JIMMY LAWTONNorth Country This Week

OGDENSBURG -- Ogdensburg will honor late Mayor Wayne L. Ashley by establishing a park in his namesake.

The park will be located on a 1.3 acre city-owned plot on Lower Lake Street.

The city council had been discussing a way to honor Ashley for the past several months, with City Councilor Storm Cilley initially suggesting the idea.

Several council members spoke highly of Ashley at the meeting, including Councilor Dan Skamperle who said he grew to be good friends with the former mayor and that the city could use more people like him.

Ashley was elected mayor in Nov. 2015, serving in that capacity from Jan. 1, 2016 to Dec. 31, 2019. Prior to that he served as a member of the city council from November 2011 through December 31, 2015.

"Under the leadership of Mayor Ashley the city received nearly $8.5 million to address flood damage caused in 2017 and 2019, oversaw the designation of the north country’s first NYS DOS Brownfield Opportunity Area Plan in 2016, and established the Ogdensburg Land Bank in 2018," the resolution passed by council Monday said.

"Prior to Mr. Ashley’s service on City Council and as Mayor, Wayne served the community for 39-years as a member of the Ogdensburg Police Department, he also served as co-chair of the Heart-to-Heart program providing Christmas presents to children in need across St. Lawrence County with his lifelong friend, the late Charles E. Kelly."

Ashley died on April 7, 2024 at the age of 74.

At the time of his death Mayor Michael Tooley offered appreciation for Ashley.

“It is with much sadness that I learned on April 7 the passing of Wayne L. Ashley, former Mayor of the City of Ogdensburg. Wayne served the City of Ogdensburg 39 years as a member of the Ogdensburg Police Department. He was sworn in as a police officer on September 25, 1971, serving 20 years as a  patrolman until he was sworn in as a sergeant in 1991. Wayne continued as a sergeant until his retirement on February 20, 2010. Wayne’s service in city government began January 1, 2011, when he was sworn in as a City Councillor after winning election the previous November. After serving one term, Wayne ran for and was elected to the Office of Mayor in the City, serving one term from 2016-2019," He said in a prepared statement.