Annual Dancing for Children United to benefit all-inclusive playground

The all-inclusive Children United Playground in Elmer Thomas Park is becoming a reality, but a little more financial help is needed to get the project over the finish line.

To get the funding needed to complete the project, Children United will host its annual Dancing for Children United fundraising banquet and show at 6 p.m. Saturday in the Apache Casino Hotel Ballroom, 2315 E. Gore. For $100, visitors get a full-plated meal, a silent auction and entertainment, as well as five different dance groups competing against each other. Attendees can then vote for their favorite team, with each vote costing $1. All money will go directly to the playground.

According to a release, Children United was based upon the vision of its founder, the late Joe Chesko, who, one afternoon, noticed a boy in a wheelchair watching other children play in Elmer Thomas Park. He then made it his mission to find a way to allow all children, no matter their level of mobility, a place to play and have fun. The idea of an all-inclusive playground was born.

Construction started in summer this year, and the playground is expected to open in Spring 2024, according to Jeannete Klein, committee chairwoman for Children United. The projected installation day of the equipment is Nov. 1, she added, with the last phase being the pouring of a special rubber surface over the site and foundation that is already in place. Once finished, the playground is joining the existing playground to provide for an all-inclusive experience.

“I could go on and on about that,” Klein said. “Think of a child living with disability, there’s literally nowhere for them to play. What makes this playground so important is that it is joining the existing playground, so all children can play together. We keep families united, not separated. This way, a family with multiple children can still go to the same playground.”

To make the Children United Playground truly ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant, the main part of the playground will have, among many other features, ramps, wheelchair-accessible merry-go-rounds and new parking spaces, allowing families to get to the playground with greater ease, Klein said.

The playground will be surrounded by a custom picket fence. On the pickets will be custom engraved names, businesses, messages and more. Each picket is sold for $100.

To purchase tickets for Dancing for Children United or pickets, visit facebook.com/childrenunitedswork or call Jeannete Klein at 580-581-6249.