CARMEL, IN – The City of Carmel is hosting a high-level civic and cultural exchange with Daniel Burkert of Seiffen, Germany. As a representative for one of Carmel’s six sister cities, Burkert is a master woodworker at Holzteile Heiko Flath and the Vice President of the Chemnitz Chamber of Skilled Crafts.
He serves as a premier advocate for regional trades and craftsmanship in the Ore Mountains of Germany. While Burkert’s visit to Indiana began as a personal goal to compete in the Carmel Marathon on May 31st, 2026, his journey has ultimately taken on a much deeper meaning. His 26.2 mile run through the city has evolved into a collaborative scouting mission designed to help bring Seiffen’s KugelTour to life in Carmel. The KugelTour is an interactive wooden marble track system. These installations are strategically designed to get people of all ages outside, moving their bodies, and engaging with their surroundings in a playful and tactile way. It is the kind of interactive, purposeful art installation that Carmel residents can truly get behind. The vision is to place several tracks at or near major Carmel treasures to create a self-guided tour – golf-ball sized wooden marble in hand. Potential locations include local museums, restaurants, parks, and spots along the Monon Greenway. These tracks turn a simple walk through the city into a multi-sensory journey of discovery and testament to our international community. By running the marathon course, Burkert is gathering a “kinetic” impression of Carmel’s geography and the famous Hoosier Hospitality that helped define Carmel’s status as the nation’s top sister city program.
This firsthand experience is vital to the creative process of his friend and marathon sponsor, the legendary wooden toymaker Wolfgang Werner of Werner Spielzeug in Seiffen. Wolfgang is not to be mistaken for his brother, Christian Werner, who showcased Seiffen’s unique Reifendrehen (wood turning) craftsmanship at the Carmel Christkindlmarkt from 2017 to 2019. As the mastermind behind more than 20 distinct interactive marble tracks throughout Seiffen and Saxony, Wolfgang Werner and his design team will rely on Burkert’s observations to design a custom show-stopper track specifically for Carmel. “Our goal is to live up to our collaborative spirit by involving local creatives, engineers, fabricators, and civic organizations on both sides of the Atlantic,” says Sandi Richardson, President of Carmel Seiffen Sister Cities Inc. and Project Manager for the KugelTour. “Daniel acts as the eyes and ears of the project, translating the heart of Carmel into the blueprints for a permanent symbol of our international friendship. While the initial tracks are designed in close collaboration between our partner communities, subsequent tracks would spark local creativity and hands-on involvement to add intentional and playful installations to our thriving art scene.”
In addition to his professional and athletic pursuits, Burkert is a cornerstone of Seiffen’s civic life. He is a former competitive Luge and Skeleton athlete who transitioned to ultra-endurance trail runs and 150km hikes. He also brings deep community roots as a 20 year choir director for the Anton Günther Chor, a former youth soccer coach, and a co-organizer for Seiffen’s local Stock Car and Crash Car derby events. “I am looking forward to the new impressions, the people, and the experiences that enrich my life and expand my horizons.” says Burkert as he prepares for his Carmel Marathon adventure. The KugelTour extension in Carmel is currently in a critical grant-seeking stage with the Goethe-Institut and Sister Cities International. When the first wooden marble eventually rolls down a Carmel-inspired track, it will represent more than just a game. It will be the physical heartbeat of a partnership that has become the gold standard for international friendship.
