Opening of the Breg Park on the Furtwangen University campus: Anja Siedle, City of Furtwangen, President Dr. Alexandra Bormann, Max Federer (HFU Occupational Health Management), Head of Administration Andrea Linke, Prof. Dr. Thomas Auhuber from BG Prevent, Dr. Thomas Koepfer Chairman of the PRO HFU e.V. support association, and Mario Kümmel (HFU Project and Marketing Manager) (all from left).
Health promotion for all - calisthenics facility on the Furtwangen campus encourages exercise
Furtwangen University (HFU) officially opened the new Breg Park on its Furtwangen campus with an inaugeration ceremony. Students, staff, citizens, and representatives from companies and the city of Furtwangen accepted the invitation and witnessed the opening of the new calisthenics facility. The sports equipment is not only intended to offer new opportunities for experienced sports enthusiasts, but also to encourage people of all ages to engage in healthy exercise.
The construction of the sports facility in the green space between the university's I Building and the Breg was initiated and implemented by the university support association PRO HFU e.V. As chairman of PRO HFU, Dr. Thomas Koepfer warmly welcomed those present to the opening − “actually the opening of an idea that combines education and fun, exercise and communication.” The new sports facility is a meeting place for young and old, said Koepfer, who emphasised how proud the support association was to have played a key role in this project. Thanks to PRO HFU, funding for the project was secured from the European “LEADER” programme. The second half of the costs for the new facility were covered by donations from companies, associations, and the city, including BG Prevent, the city of Furtwangen, Huonker, Techniker Krankenkasse, the student body of Furtwangen University, S. Siedle & Söhne Telefon- und Telegrafenwerke, KOEPFER Holding, the community foundation, E. Dold + Soehne, Turnverein Furtwangen, Otto Ganter Normteilefabrik, and Pumpen Scherzinger.
HFU President Dr. Alexandra Bormann expressed her special thanks to all those involved, “Health is a very precious commodity. At Furtwangen University, we want to address this future-oriented topic not only on a scientific level. As a university of applied sciences, we place particular emphasis on practical relevance. What could be more appropriate than bringing the topic of sport and health to life in the middle of the campus? Here, people can experience community − we are delighted that, with the help of our generous partners, we have been able to create not only a healthy exercise programme, but also a meeting place for the whole of Furtwangen.”
As a special sponsor, Prof. Dr. Thomas Auhuber from BG Prevent presented a check for €15,000 to HFU Head of Administration Andrea Linke. Auhuber praised Furtwangen University as a gem and a cooperation partner with a focus on health and technology.
Head of Administration Andrea Linke reported on the original idea for a sports facility on the Furtwangen campus, which came to her during the coronavirus pandemic. “It suits us so well because health is a key focus at our university,” said Linke, who also warmly thanked the employees involved in the implementation. "Strong partnerships are essential for forward-looking projects such as Breg Park. Together, we can enrich not only our university, but also the region," she added.
Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) has been supporting Furtwangen University for many years as a partner in occupational health management. TK has hired an independent trainer to use the facility, who will offer free weekly training sessions starting immediately. The training will focus primarily on using one's own body weight. “The construction of the calisthenics park not only offers an innovative way to integrate exercise into everyday life, but also promotes social interaction and awareness of a healthy lifestyle among employees and students,” says Tobias Hauser, university advisor at Techniker Krankenkasse.
During the event, guests were provided with smoothies and soup, which highlighted both healthy ingredients and the importance of a balanced diet. The first sporting challenge also generated enthusiasm − under expert guidance, those attending the inauguration were able to directly test their strength.
As a contribution to promoting health in the region, Breg Park will also be used in future in cooperation with schools and clubs, at events such as health days, and in HFU research projects in the field of health sciences and physiotherapy. For Furtwangen, Breg Park is a visible symbol of the attractiveness of the location, innovation, and quality of life in the Black Forest.