BUFFALO, N.Y. — A newly renovated south Buffalo bridge and nature habitat has just been named in honor of a former Erie County Sheriff.

"Thousands of individuals drive by this location every day and there's already I saw fishermen out on the point right now fishing, and whenever they drive by this location or use this park in the future they will see the name Tom Higgins and realize that there's a man that served our community for so many years, for decades, who did good work and deserves to have this park named after him." said Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz (D).

Poloncarz joined elected officials, family, friends and more who came out to pay tribute to the late sheriff Thomas Higgins at the dedication of the new Bailey Street Bridges and Bailey Peninsula Natural Habitat in his honor.

"42 years in law enforcement and just, even in his retirement years Tom remained very active in public life," said Rep. Brian Higgins (D-26).

"Higgins' life, as you all know, was about service: Service to this nation, service to our community," said Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown. "He spent 21 years as a member of the Buffalo Police Department and he ended his career in our department as director of our training academy."

The $36 million project to renovate the 88-year old bridge involved the elimination of a pier to reduce upstream ice jam flooding, road repaving and greenspace enhancements to the natural habitat park.

"This park is much better than it was before; I think it's an appropriate symbol of the service that the former sheriff gave to his community starting out as a Korean War veteran, his long service to the Buffalo Police Department and for all the people of Erie County," said Poloncarz.

"We are so lucky as a family to have this memorial to drive, walk, and bike pass and share the many stories of Thomas Francis Higgins with the community and future generations to come," said Leah Higgins.  

Sheriff Thomas Higgins died of June 26th this year he was 88 years old.