Though 8-year-old Obi Christenson is gone, his wish came true Tuesday

Elston Park rededication was 
helped by boy’s HUGE donation

The wish of a La Crescent boy who died of cancer has come true.

Obi Christenson, an 8-year-old boy, had one wish after winning a fourth-place prize of $15,000 for a Children’s Miracle Network national tissue box design, and that wish was that the money won would help fund the Elston Playground in La Crosse.

Tuesday, that wish came true. Unfortunately Christenson never got to see the results, having passed away last September. But, in his honor, and Vanny Elston, a 5-year-old boy who also died from cancer nearly 40 years ago, the playground has been redone and rededicated.

It was a $116,000 renovation – the third since the playground was built in 1979. A renovation that Christenson was in on, as part of the committee to design the playground. He picked a lot of the activities and colors, including a yellow canopy that he wanted to help remind people of the sun.

Vanny Elston’s parents, Van and Mary, were the driving force for redoing the playground on Sims Place.

Most of the planning for the new playground was done by a committee, that including, along with Obi, the Elstons and Gundersen Medical Foundation staff. The original playground, and its renovation, was funded by Gundersen, the Elstons, family and friends.