As a small boy, Walter McCracken came to Oklahoma City in a covered wagon with his parents and five sisters and settled on a farm at what is now SE 59 and Post Road across from Tinker Air Force Base. McCracken and his wife Maude were the original caretakers of Sunny Lane Cemetery, which they made their life’s work – Walter for 30 years and Maude for 44 years. Walter was also active in the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce for over 25 years. At the Chamber’s annual 89er Days parade, McCracken excelled at gathering fellow 89ers to ride authentic wagons in the parade.

The land for this park was originally the homestead of Rufus N. Baker and was later acquired by the city for a neighborhood park. It was named for Walter Thomas McCracken in 1970.