‘Mission completed’ with opening of Children United Park

On Saturday morning, the late-Joe Chesko’s dream for an all-inclusive playground became reality with the ribbon cutting of the Children United Park.

Housed just north of the Children’s Playground in Elmer Thomas Park, the image that spurred Chesko into action will be a thing of the past.

Project Manager Max Sasseen spoke of the late-realtor’s vision following the establishment of the playground. Chesko was visiting the park following its opening and he saw a child in a wheelchair at the fence line watching his siblings play on all the equipment.

“It broke his heart that day,” he said. “That day, Joe Chesko decided he needed to do this playground expansion.”

It’s bigger and better than he could ever imagine.

Moments after the ceremonial ribbon cutting by Jeanette Klein, who took over as Children United Committee chair following her friend’s passing from COVID-19 in May 2021, and his daughter, Julie Chesko, the rush of children of all abilities onto its lush grounds offered a moment of joy that’s hard to put into words.

Upon seeing the activity and the many smiles, Klein was left emotional. Her smile and her tears told the story.

“I’m actually kind of speechless,” she said. “This is so overwhelming.”

Joined by 5-year-old Mary Maxon and her grandmother Billie Allbritton, Lawton Mayor Stan Booker spoke of the little girl’s excitement for having a place she could play with the other children. He said this day shined a light on the “soul of the community.”

“It takes individuals, the government can do everything,” he said. “It takes the passion of one individual. … Take Joe’s example and make the progress you want in your community.”

Booker spoke of the late-Raymond McAlister who was beloved by so many. He noted at the time of McAlister’s passing in August 2021, the outpouring of love shown by the Lawton community for a man with special needs who just wanted to be a part of his community. Booker’s granddaughter was born around that time and, like McAlister, she was born with Down’s Syndrome, he said.

As Booker pushed Maxon in a swing made for her, the giant smile she wore and screams of joy were what this project was all about. Allbritton said the two have a special connection.

“She has known the mayor since she was an infant,” she said. “When she saw him today, she went running straight for him.”

The completion of the Children United Park stemmed from a furious and imaginative fundraising push by the Children United Committee to raise the approximately $1.3 million to complete it. It also came from a combination of community staples: the McMahon Foundation and the City of Lawton, according to Sasseen.

“It’s hard to underestimate the McMahon Foundation’s importance in this community,” he said.

When the committee found the special needs playground equipment on sale, it was the McMahon Foundation who offered the upfront money to pay for it, Sasseen said. When it was coming to the last $450,000, it was the City of Lawton who put in $250,000 and the McMahon Foundation who matched with an additional $200,000. He credited Phil Kennedy from the foundation with understanding and believing in this goal.

Kennedy said “It’s hard to tell Max no.” That, and the park is in line with the foundation’s goals in providing for the community. It all goes back to Chesko, he said.

“This day is a day of vision,” he said. “To see a vision completed is what we see today. We knew this was important to come to completion.”

As 6-year-old Noel Palmer hanged upside down from a monkey bar attached to the large mass of playground toys, his mother, Sharmaine, said it means a lot. Noel is diagnosed with ADHD. But at the playground, he’s just a boy in his element.

“I like it a lot better than that one,” she said.

Parks and Recreation Director Larry Parks it’s an honor that he and his employees could help a vision become a goal that became a mission. He called Saturday, “a mission completed.”

“Thank you for trusting your Parks and Recreation Department for allowing us to maintain it,” he said.

Sasseen said part of this mission was spurred to completion through various City of Lawton departments lending their expertise where they could. It follows Booker’s mission statement to make Lawton a place for young families, he said.

So, while there’s the Children’s Playground nearby, this park is here from now forward to serve everyone who wants to play.

“This playground is for everybody,” he said. “This is a promise made and promise kept.”

And that’s exactly how Chesko would want it.