Nationwide — Lakeesha Bussey, a retired Army veteran, former financial analyst, and longtime federal employee, is now the founder of Park Play Party, a six-figure party rental and children’s entertainment company. She is also the founder of Bussey Events, an event venue company with locations in Maple Heights and Northfield, Ohio, and Party Side Hustle, an education platform created to help others build profitable party businesses.
She started ParkPlayParty with a vision of making children’s celebrations easier and more memorable for families. Her company provides character entertainment, bounce houses, concessions, tables and chairs, children’s activities, and complete party experiences. What began as a side hustle has grown into a successful company serving families, community organizations, municipalities, and celebrity clients throughout Greater Cleveland. In 2026, ParkPlayParty celebrated 13 years in business, a milestone representing years of persistence, learning, and adapting.
As ParkPlayParty grew, Lakeesha recognized that her customers needed more than party rentals; they also needed affordable and attractive spaces to host their celebrations, and that need inspired the creation of Bussey Events, which now operates event venues in Maple Heights and Northfield, providing spaces for birthday parties, baby showers, weddings, repasts, business events, and community gatherings. The venues allow customers to book both the space and entertainment services through businesses owned by one local entrepreneur.
Lakeesha is also using her experience to help aspiring entrepreneurs through Party Side Hustle. Through classes, challenges, and mentorship programs, she teaches new and developing party rental owners how to choose profitable services, price their offers, market consistently, and turn party inventory into dependable income. “People often believe they need a huge amount of money, a warehouse full of inventory or thousands of followers to get started,” she said. “I want them to understand that they can begin with what they have, learn how to market it and grow one booking at a time.”
Her entrepreneurial journey has included balancing military service, federal employment, motherhood and the responsibilities of owning multiple businesses. She now uses the discipline developed during her military career and the financial knowledge gained through her professional experience to build businesses, create jobs and serve her community. “Sometimes the fork in the road leads you exactly where you belong,” she added. “Leaving my federal career was a major decision, but it allowed me to bet on myself. Now I get to grow my businesses, create opportunities for others, and show people what is possible when they choose their vision.”
Families and organizations seeking party rentals and children’s entertainment can visit ParkPlayParty.com or follow @ParkPlayParty on Instagram. Aspiring party rental entrepreneurs can follow @PartySideHustle. Additional information about Bussey Events and its Cleveland-area venues is available through Lakeesha Bussey’s social media platforms.
About
Lakeesha Bussey is a retired United States Army veteran, former federal employee, and entrepreneur based in Cleveland, Ohio. She is the founder of ParkPlayParty, a six-figure party rental and children’s entertainment company; Bussey Events, an event venue company with locations in Maple Heights and Northfield; and Party Side Hustle, an education platform that helps aspiring and current party rental owners start, market, and grow their businesses. A mother of three, Bussey is passionate about entrepreneurship, financial independence, creating jobs, and showing others how a side hustle can grow into a successful business.
For press inquiries, contact info@ParkPlayParty.com or 216-626-7006