nucleus contest winnerNew Ulm Parks & Recreation Department wins $20,000 BCI Burke playground; will likely go in North Market Park
NEW ULM, Minn. (June 14, 2010) --When Cheryl Kormann walked into work Wednesday at the New Ulm Parks & Recreation Department, the last thing she expected was a free playground. But that’s exactly what she got.
And since Kormann is assistant director for the department, that means the city's children will be the real winners of the BCI Burke Nucleus play system, valued at more than $20,000.
BCI Burke decided to hold the national contest to call attention to its Nucleus playground, according to CEO Tim Ahern. "This is the most technologically advanced play system we've ever introduced, and our biggest product introduction in years," said Ahern.
“When I heard this over the phone, I was in total disbelief,” Kormann said. “Just shocked. I heard about the Nucleus play system about six months ago, and thought it was a really innovative product, so I entered BCI Burke's contest to win a free system. It never occurred to me I might win!”
The good news couldn’t have come at a better time, according to Kormann, who adds that the New Ulm Parks and Recreation Department has suffered nearly $380,000 in cutbacks since 2008.
“We really needed some good news, and this is a tremendous blessing for our community,” she says. “We’ve been trying, over the course of about five years, to replace old and outdated playgrounds with newer and better products, but it’s been a slow, painstaking process. I can’t express how exciting this is, and how much we’ll benefit from this new playground.”
The Nucleus play system combines traditional play with fitness-oriented activities designed to build strength, endurance, balance, aerobic fitness and physical skills.
“When I saw this product, I was really attracted to it,” said Kormann. “We already have one piece of BCI Burke equipment that we installed about a year and a half ago, and we’ve had nothing but positive feedback on it. It’s just unreal to me that we’re receiving this totally innovative new playground for free.”
But now that she has it, Kormann has her plans in place. “I’m 90 percent certain that we’ll install it in North Market Park. It’s the perfect size for this unit, and since several day care agencies use that park for recreation and exercise, it’ll really be put to good use.”
The Nucleus play system includes more than 10 play events and has a capacity for 57 children ages 5-12. Contests for other prizes will continue throughout the year, according to Ahern. Individuals may enter by visiting www.playnucleus.com.
BCI Burke, with headquarters in Fond du Lac, Wisc., is a premier manufacturer of commercial playground, park, and recreation equipment. More information is available at www.bciburke.com.
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