Tinley Park Playground Dedicated in Honor of Soldier

With a crowd of touched onlookers, the Tinley Park Park District last weekend unveiled a sign designating a new playground in honor of a fallen local soldier.

Family and friends rallied to have a park named in honor of Staff Sgt. Michael Sutter, who died in 2003 while trying to defuse a bomb in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was an active participant in park district activities, specifically judo classes taught by his father John at the Tinley Park Park District. The Andrew High School alum was an award-winning athlete known for his dedication and spirit, friends said. His parents John and Judy were devoted supporters who carted the judo team around in their van.

An online petition was started asking for support in naming a park after Sutter. Nearly 3,000 signatures were collected.

The park district board voted August 6 to dedicate the playground at 8125 W. 171st St., next to the Bettenhausen Recreation Center, in his honor. The dedication was attended by Tinley Park Mayor Ed Zabrocki and State Sen. Michael Hastings, D-Orland Hills. 

“I can’t think of a more suitable tribute to honor and remember Mike then by having a TP Park dedicated and named after our fallen soldier,” the petition reads.