Francis R. Slay
ST. LOUIS — For his years of service to his party and his city, aldermen are rewarding Francis R. Slay with a place of his own — a city park.
The board has endorsed a bill renaming Arsenal-Ellendale Park — a swath of city land at the intersection of McCausland Avenue and Arsenal Street in southwest St. Louis — “Francis R. Slay Park.”
In city politics, Slay is well-known beyond his famous son, Mayor Francis Slay. Mr. Slay was the city Recorder of Deeds, a state representative and a popular restaurateur.
Earlier this year, the older Slay stepped down after 45 years as Democratic committeeman in the 23rd Ward. Though his new park will technically be in the neighboring 24th Ward, it’s close enough to home that it will be used by plenty of his former constituents.
The park isn’t much to look at now — some grass and a tennis court — but could become more prominent if supporters of the Animal House Fund succeed in raising enough money to put a new pound on the park grounds.
As it stands, the bill to rename the park for Francis R. Slay will, after one more vote by aldermen, head for final approval to the mayor’s desk, who might just be able to sign in time for his pop’s birthday — Mr. Slay turns 82 on Oct. 28.
I live very near this park and I was happy to see the name change and to hear of all the things they plan to do with this park. It is nice to see soccer games and softball games on the weekends and during the week. 6 years ago when I moved to the neighborhood, not much of this was going on. We need this park for this neighborhood and any improvements and attention to the park are all good.
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I got nothing against the man, but aren’t “recognition” namings supposed to be done posthumously?! I’d rather the park name to reflect what they hope to be able to do with it — and turn it into a real dog park, like would befit a cosmopolitan city.
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I grew up with Senior Mr. Slay just a few doors down the street. I sold everything from pizzas to Girl Scout cookies to Christmas cards to him. He’d take me aside and give me a serious talk about why my parents were good parents, how I was being a good girl and needed to continue respecting my parents and inevitably pat me on the head well into my late teens. At SLUH’s prom at The Cedars, he pulled our dates away and gave them a serious talking-to about how we were all good girls and if we got in trouble that night, he’d know. That same night we really wanted chocolate milk with our dessert and he had it made for our table. Even though I wasn’t living at home during college, he’d stop by my mom and dad’s if he saw me out with a boy. Every year he gave my parents the marriage story that Bishop Shaheen gave to newlyweds and then he’d praise my folks for staying committed. I knew Senior Mr. Slay way before I was involved in politics as a generous, compassionate neighbor who gave out full size Snicker bars on Halloween.
Call me naive or a groupie; you’d be incorrect. A park should be named after someone who loves their community and continues to be invested in it. Whatever your personal feelings toward the machine are, remember Senior Mr. Slay continues to be committed to the City and continues to take great delight in those who equally love the City and their neighbors. The dedication he has to his family and his neighborhood is beyond reproach.
RE The Animal House fund, take a look http://animalhousefund.org/aboutus.php. They have new hoodies for your pups that support the Fund too!
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Turd, you and your comment stinks.
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Congrats Mr. Slay–a well deserved honor. I don’t care what anyone else says. You have served your community, family and church above and beyond the call of duty.
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Craig-read my post on the Animal House Fund-I donated money as part of paying my water bill.It was a voluntary “add-on” donation.I sure hope the funds are being kept by a group independent of the City of St.Louis.Way to much corruption going on there.
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Go Animal House Fund, go! A new pound is overdue.
And congratulations to Mr. Slay too.
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A park name for the KKK now that’s good what next ……
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Mr. Slay is a wonderful gentleman. I hope that complimentary cigars are handed out for chewing at the ceremony.
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When our dear beloved Mayor Slay passed away to the money pit in the sky let them name a park downtown after him,that where he gets all his underhand money and gratitude from.As far as the Animal House Fund-what is going on with this?I have given over $300.00 to this fund and having seen nothing yet.With all the corruption going on in the city maybe the Post-Dispatch should do an invesigation to see what is being done with contributions to the animal fund!
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Every other day someone else gets murdered in the city, Lambert Field is turning into a ghost town and the schools stink. What to do?
Spend time naming a park after the mayor’s old man. Nice!
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Pathetic. Kind of like naming a certain South Side park after a person named “Leisure”.
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Very, very appropriate….a very nice recognition. That’s the park
with the softball fields…near River Des Peres? Or is it across the
street?
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