Volunteers build a Round Lake park in a day
Drivers cruising along Route 120 near Round Lake had to be curious.
Just north of the highway, scores of people, all wearing orange shirts, buzzed like worker bees around a hive.
Nearly 700 volunteers, including 450 employees from Riverwoods-based Discover Financial Services, and folks from the Salvation Army, dug post holes, hauled mulch and poured concrete as they worked to build a children's playground at the Nicasa headquarters on Friday.
Working from a drawings designed by children who attended a design-day event in July, the entire 3,500-square-foot facility was completed in less than eight hours.
The event was organized by Nicasa and Washington, DC-based KaBOOM!, which builds playgrounds for communities across the country.
"We love KaBOOM!," said Nicasa CEO Bruce Johnson. "They have a beautiful mission to provide places for kids to play. Their generosity is unbelievable."
The play equipment will be used by kids and families in Nicasa's substance abuse prevention and treatment programs. Nicasa operates seven sites across Lake County.
Building a park in a day is no small feat, but KaBOOM! has it down to a science. They've built more than 1,600 parks since they started the program 15 years ago.
"We'll be pouring 5,000 tons of concrete and moving four semi-trucks full of mulch today," said KaBOOM! project manager Lian Mah. "We are also planting bushes and some really pretty trees."
Discover Senior Vice President Glenn Schneider said it wasn't hard getting employees to step up.
"We've had more volunteers this year than any before," Schneider said. "Our people really enjoy the work. Giving back to the community is a critical component of who we are as a company."
Discover donated nearly $160,000 for the building materials in addition to providing hundreds of volunteer laborers.
The park plan included an added feature. A challenge course was constructed that Nicasa will use for leadership development and other character forming exercises.
"The challenge course provides options we've never had," Johnson said.
The first shovels of dirt were turned before 9 a.m. and the day concluded with a ribbon cutting and dedication later in the afternoon.
"To see this finally come to fruition is amazing," Johnson said. "This is a great plan and we are blessed to be given this opportunity. Very blessed."