POINT PLEASANT BEACH — Pleasure Park’s benches received a facelift over the weekend, when seven surprisingly historic benches were refurbished, through the help of community volunteers, with sustainable lumber.
Residents and parish members of St. Peter Roman Catholic Church volunteered in the effort on Saturday, which replaced the surface of seven benches, parts of which are estimated to be some 70 years old. According to Green Team member June Cuzzo, the refurbishing was the result of a grant from Sustainable Jersey, a nonprofit that provides tools, training and financial incentives to support New Jersey communities as they pursue sustainability programs.
“Green Team was awarded a $2,000 community grant by Sustainable Jersey in 2024,” said Cuzzo. “Green Team members decided — and council approved — to replace the worn lumber on some benches in Pleasure Park.”
Cuzzo explained some of the “interesting history” of seven of the benches, which includes being manufactured over 70 years ago.
“After a review of the park benches we discovered that seven of the benches had an interesting history and all were in need of resurfacing,” she said. “The benches were made by J.E. Burke, which is now known as BCI Burke. The company was founded in 1920 by John Edward Burke as a weather stripping and radiator furniture business in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. They expanded into playground and park equipment in the late 1920s and have grown throughout the 20th century.”
Cuzzo said that, during World War II, the Burke company diverted to wartime production. In 1952, J.E. Burke expanded to a New Brunswick facility for approximately a decade, after which that facility was closed. It was at this New Brunswick location, Cuzzo said, that the metal bench frames were forged.
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