HUDSON - A marina and park in Hudson has been named after one of the Quebec town's favourite sons.

Jack-Layton Park – a spot held a special role in Layton's early political activism - officially opened Saturday, with more than 300 people in attendance.

The Westwood Senior High School band performed as family, friends and admirers gathered at the scenic spot where a young Jack Layton spent much of his time, and where he developed his community-based political spirit.

"Protestant, Catholic, English, French, wealthy, affluent, not so affluent, all here but the mood of the community at the time was embrace and work together as a community. As you can tell, these were Jack's values," said brother Rob Layton.

As a boy, Layton would spend his summers at the Hudson Marina, even getting in trouble there as a teenager, after he staged an act of political rebellion.

In the 1960s, Layton invited scores of poorer francophone kids to join a party at the posh Anglo club. Last year, Layton told Maclean's magazine that, as a result of his gesture, the adults threatened to disband the youth club he led -- so he shut it down himself.

Now, the park bears the former NDP leader's name.

"This park now is open to all and what a fitting tribute to Jack," said Layton's widow and NDP Member of Parliament, Olivia Chow.

Layton's sister Nancy was moved by the gesture.

"I think Jack would be thrilled with this as a location and I'm sure he would be riding the tandem (bicycle) with Olivia all the time if he was here," she said.

Resting on the shores of Lac des Deux Montagnes, Jack Layton Park bears a public boat launch and connects to nearby Sandy Beach Nature Park.

NDP leader Thomas Mulcair credited Layton for the beautiful weather, as well as for some of the party's success in the polls.

"We're going to continue to bring a positive message of hope, the type of message that Jack always brought forward," he said.

The town asked for special permission to name the park after Layton, who died of cancer last August. Normally, a park cannot be name after a person until they have been deceased for over a year.

The inauguration was not a day of mourning, but one of celebration – not only for the new park, but also for Layton's mother Doris, who celebrates a birthday Monday.

Doris Layton said she had a good idea what her son would do on a summer day like Saturday if he were alive.

"He'd be in the pool," she laughed. "He'd be swimming."

With a file from The Canadian Press