On Wednesday, November 1, the Park District of Highland Park, in conjunction with the Parks Foundation of Highland Park, celebrated the renaming of Cloverdale Park to Fontana-Pasquesi Park in honor of the Italian immigrant families from the Modena Province in the Emilia Romagna Region who settled in this area beginning in the early 1900s. The Fontana-Pasquesi family gave a generous donation to the Parks Foundation that will be used to maintain and improve the park for the neighborhood and the entire Highland Park community for many years to come.   

The Park District Board of Commissioners approved the renaming of the park at the October 25, 2023 Regular Board Meeting. The naming rights agreement was presented and approved by the Park Board of Commissioners at the August 23, 2023, Regular Board Meeting. The name sat for a period of 60 days for public review before final approval by the Park Board.  

A dedication plaque will be posted at the park giving the history of the Italian-American families who settled in the Highland Park/Highwood area. 

This park is dedicated to the Italian immigrants from the Modena Province in the Emilia Romagna Region. The capital of Modena is the city of Modena, which is one of the Sister Cities of Highland Park.

These immigrants settled in Southeast Lake County beginning in the early 1900s. They strongly supported their adopted homeland and were proud to become U.S. citizens with many serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

It was their sacrifice, spirit, and work ethic that contributed to Highland Park History.

Laurence Pasquesi

Maria Fontana Pasquesi