Playground to be rededicated in honor of Manuel and Felizarda Pina

MARION — The town of Marion will host a renaming ceremony at the former Point Road Playground on Friday, Sept. 26 at 11 a.m.

The site, which was rededicated to Manuel and Felizarda Pina in August, is located at 983 Point Road, north of U.S. Route 6.

The property was once owned by the Pinas after they emigrated from Cape Verde in 1905 and settled in Marion. The couple raised seven sons, and six of them served in World War II.

In 1930, the couple sold or gifted the land to the town of Marion. Point Road Elementary was later built on the property, and the school primarily served Cape Verdean students until it was closed in the late 1950s.

The ceremony on Sept. 26 will feature remarks from family members and representatives of Marion and the Sippican Historical Society.

"This is such an honor," said granddaughter Rhonda Pina-Mendes. "I am collecting stories about my great-grandparents and about the school that once stood on the property and will include some of those in my speech."

“We look forward to our renaming ceremony for the former Point Road Playground, now known as Manuel and Felizarda Pina Recreational Park,” said Town Administrator Geoffrey Gorman. “This is a recognition of the great contributions that the Pina family made to this community and this country. It is a fitting honor, and it also reflects the Cape Verdean-American history of the neighborhood.”

The playground and pickleball courts located at the park will be closed from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to accommodate the ceremony.