Maria Pellegrino Park

Maria Pellegrino Park
Type Municipal park
Location Marble Hill, Missouri, United States
Coordinates 37°18′16″N 89°59′26″W / 37.3045°N 89.99066°W / 37.3045; -89.99066Coordinates: 37°18′16″N 89°59′26″W / 37.3045°N 89.99066°W / 37.3045; -89.99066
Area 30 acres (12 ha)[1]
Created 1972
Owned by City of Marble Hill
Website City of Marble Hill Parks & Recreation

Maria Pellegrino Park is a municipal park in the western of portion of Marble Hill, Missouri. It is the largest of the five parks in the municipality. The park was founded by Frank Pellegrino and is named in honor of his mother, Maria Pellegrino.[2][3]

History

Park founder Frank Pellegrino (1901-1975).

In 1969, Frank P. Pellegrino, Chairman of the International Hat Company, headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, made an offer to establish a new park in Marble Hill. The city was chosen by Pellegrino because of the International Hat factory located nearby, as a gift of appreciation to the local employees and townspeople. He believed in improving the quality of life in the places where his factories were built.[4] This was the second park Pellegrino had built in a city with an International Hat factory, the first being George Tilles, Jr. Park in Oran, Missouri in 1962.[4][5]

The park was originally an empty field.[2] Pellegrino donated the land, agreeing to fund the development of the recreational facilities, park roads, playground equipment, a small pavilion shelter, and tree planting.[4] The initial fifteen picnic tables were constructed by the federal government through the Office of Economic Opportunity.[6] A large pavilion shelter was added to the initial plans. The pavilion was funded by the Board of the International Hat Company and was named the Frank Pellegrino Shelter, in honor of the Chairman's fifty years of service to the company.[6]

The park was dedicated on June 4, 1972 to much fanfare.[7] Over 800 individuals attended the dedication. Pellegrino, Missouri State Representative Frank Ellis, Lutesville Mayor Orville Liley, Marble Hill Mayor Leon Sander, and Bollinger Chamber of Commerce Vice President F. X. Peters took part in the ribbon cutting.[3] The mayors declared June 4 to be "Pellegrino Appreciation Day" in their cities.[3] Representative Frank Ellis read an official resolution passed by the Missouri House of Representatives thanking Pellegrino for his philanthropic donations to the state over the years.[4]

In 1976, Larma A. Wisely established a trust for the construction of a municipal pool in Pellegrino Park.[8][9] The pool was completed in 1992 and was named in her honor.

See also

Frank P. Pellegrino

References

  1. ↑ The Missourian. "Marble Hill to Ballot on Gift of Cash, Park". The Southeast Missourian, Cape Girardeau, May 17, 1969. Retrieved on 8 January 2014.
  2. 1 2 The Missourian. "Twin Cities Get Offer of Land, Cash for Park"'. The Southeast Missourian, Cape Girardeau, April 2, 1969. Retrieved on 8 January 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 The Missourian. "Park Benefactor" The Southeast Missourian, Cape Girardeau, June 5, 1972. Retrieved on 8 January 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 The Missourian. "Dedicate New Bollinger Park". The Southeast Missourian, Cape Girardeau, June 5, 1972. Retrieved on 8 January 2014.
  5. ↑ The Missourian. "$10,000 Gift, Voter Approval Bring City Park". The Southeast Missourian, Cape Girardeau, April 2, 1962. Retrieved on 8 January 2014.
  6. 1 2 The Missourian. "Plans for Spring Dedication of Pellegrino Park, Lake"'. The Southeast Missourian, Cape Girardeau, February 27, 1971. Retrieved on 8 January 2014.
  7. ↑ The Missourian. "Dedicate New Park at Ceremonies Sunday", The Southeast Missourian, Cape Girardeau, June 2, 1972. Retrieved on 25 November 2013.
  8. ↑ Julie Bollman. "City To Rent Space From Its New Municipal Pool". The Southeast Missourian, Cape Girardeau, June 2, 1992. Retrieved on 15 January 2014.
  9. ↑ Jim Grebing. "Marble Hill to Seek Judgment on Pool Issue". The Southeast Missourian, Cape Girardeau, October 21, 1993. Retrieved on 15 January 2014.

External links

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