By Bonnie Washuk,Staff Writer

AUBURN – On Wednesday afternoon Katie Naum was swinging on playground equipment at Fairview School.

The playground has plenty of room, but not a lot of equipment – three swings and a monkey bar set with gliders.

“The gliders are really popular,” said Katie, who is 10. “You have to wait in a five-person line to get on the gliders.”

Fairview will soon have more play options.

Katie was one of 20 children across the country to win $5,000 for new playground equipment for their schools. The money was awarded by Nickelodeon, the children’s television network, which sponsored a “Let’s Just Play Giveaway” contest.

Nickelodeon spokeswoman Joanna Roses said the check should arrive in a few weeks.

Katie is dreaming of what will soon be delivered to the playground. She’s hoping for something to spin on, slide and climb. “Maybe a merry-go-round, maybe a Geo-dome,” she said.

She and her principal will decide what to buy, said school Guidance Counselor Sue Davis.

Katie, the daughter of Susan and Jeffrey Naum, entered the contest in September after seeing it advertised on Nickelodeon. Katie’s guidance counselor asked her to apply.

“You had to write three reasons why your school should win,” Katie explained. “I wrote because we should exercise more, we should get fresh air, and so we can make friends and have fun on the playground.”

Nationally, children’s television stations have come under fire for enticing children to watch too much television and not get enough exercise. Too much screen time is one reason there’s a national epidemic of obese and overweight children, health experts say.

The contest is to help encourage children to exercise and to help with a national lack of play facilities, said Nickelodeon’s Roses.

“Nickelodeon wants Let’s Just Play’ to be part of our DNA,” Roses said. “We want to do what’s best for kids.”

The station also sponsors a worldwide day of play on Oct. 2, when the channel goes dark for three hours. Nickelodeon encourages exercise through news and announcements, and has joined the Clinton Foundation and American Heart Association to further promote exercise in the coming year, Roses said.

Katie said she didn’t have high expectations when she entered the contest.

“I never win this kind of stuff,” she said.

She found out before Christmas that she had won. “I was in total shock,” she said. “Everybody was so happy for me.” Fellow students are excited about getting new play equipment, she said.

On Wednesday night Katie shared the news by giving a presentation to the Auburn School Committee.

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