page_title: Maria Pellegrino Park
section_title: Dedication
hierarchical_section_title: Maria Pellegrino Park / History / Dedication
caption_attribution_description: English: Park founder, Frank Pellegrino, cutting the ribbon at the opening ceremony of Pellegrino Park, June 4, 1972.
context_page_description: Maria Pellegrino Park is a municipal park in the western of portion of Marble Hill, Missouri. The park is the largest of the five reserves in the municipality. Pellegrino Park features tennis courts, pavilions, playground equipment, picnic tables, restroom facilities, forest, and a two acre lake for fishing. The park began planning in 1969 and was established in 1972 on 31 acres of city owned land. The park was founded by Frank Pellegrino, the former president and chairman of the International Hat Company of St. Louis. The company operated one of its factories in Marble Hill until 1989, employing approximately 300 people. The park was built on land donated by the company located directly adjacent to International Hat's manufacturing plant. Pellegrino named the park in honor of his Italian-American mother, Maria Pellegrino. The plaque located at the entrance gate reads that the park is dedicated to her "as an expression of her concern for the betterment of her fellowman."
context_section_description: The park was dedicated on June 4, 1972 to much fanfare.  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.  The mayors declared June 4 to be "Pellegrino Appreciation Day" in their cities.  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.
caption: Ribbon cutting ceremony at the opening dedication to Pellegrino Park, June 4, 1972.
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