Behrman Park renamed Morris F.X. Jeff Sr. Park in NORD anniversary

On Sep 28, 2021

New Orleans Recreation Department officials celebrated the organization’s 75th anniversary and renamed Behrman Memorial Park to Morris F.X. Jeff Sr. Park Monday afternoon.

Jeff, a physical education teacher in Orleans Parish and athletic director at Xavier University, was one of NORD’s founding members in 1946 and brought recreational programs to Black youth. His daughter, Jolene Jeff, attended the park renaming ceremony alongside officials and community members.

The park is one of three to be renamed by the City Council Street Renaming Commission, which was created in the wake of George Floyd’s 2020 murder by police officers in Minneapolis. The committee is renaming 37 streets, parks and places in New Orleans that honor white supremacists.

Behrman Avenue will also be renamed to George Rainey Avenue, honoring the Zulu king, veteran and restaurateur and ending part of the legacy of Martin Behrman, a pro-segregation mayor who limited Black voting rights.

A year after announcing its plan to rename parks and streets honoring the Confederacy and segregation, the New Orleans City Council voted to c…

Algiers residents overwhelmingly supported renaming Behrman Park to Morris F.X. Jeff Sr. Park, officials said.

“This park, now bearing the name of a community activist who fought for African American children to have access to the same amenities as their White counterparts, is representative of the inclusivity of the Algiers community,” said council member Kristin Gisleson Palmer.