Fond du Lac’s BCI Burke Names Play Illinois 2025 Representative of the Year

BCI Burke, a leading U.S. playground equipment manufacturer, names Play Illinois as its 2025 Representative of the Year. The recognition honors the firm’s dedication to design quality, collaborative customer partnerships and embodiment of Burke’s Play That Moves You^® mantra.

For more than a decade, Play Illinois — led by Principal Owner and Landscape Architect Mike Maloney — partnered with Burke, bringing design-driven expertise to playground projects across the state. The firm’s eight-person team serves communities throughout Illinois — from the Chicago metropolitan area to downstate municipalities — with a shared commitment to creating playspaces that truly serve the people who use them.

Maloney’s background as a landscape architect shapes the firm’s approach to every project. Recent work includes Alpine Park in Rockford, where Play Illinois collaborated with Hitchcock Design Group to create an inclusive playground featuring dual ramp access points that connect different site elevations — a design that integrates Burke equipment naturally into the landscape rather than simply placing it on the site.

“Play Illinois represents exactly what we look for in a Burke partner — a team that treats every community like their own and approaches every project with the same care and creativity, regardless of size,” said Mike Phelan, President and CEO, BCI Burke. “Over the past decade, Maloney and his team grew alongside Burke, and that shared journey reflects a deep alignment in values and vision. They don’t just sell playgrounds. They help communities imagine what’s possible, and then they deliver on that vision.”

“What sets Play Illinois apart is how they work — with their customers, with landscape architects and with our team here at Burke,” said Brian Johnson, Chief Operating Officer, BCI Burke. “They bring design thinking to every conversation and follow through from concept to installation. Play Illinois exudes the Purple Passion and pillars of Play That Moves You that we want all our representatives to have.”

“I felt like this award wasn’t just for what we did last year, but really for what we’ve done for the last 10 years since we started,” said Maloney. “We set this as a goal at the beginning of the year, then put our heads down and went back to work. What I like most is the interface with our clients — hearing how a playground turned out, seeing people use these spaces. I’ve been fortunate to spend my entire career in parks and playgrounds, and it continues to be fulfilling and time incredibly well spent.”

Play Illinois joins a network of Burke representatives around the world who share a commitment to bringing quality, inclusive and fun outdoor spaces to schools, parks, churches, HOAs and community organizations.