Landscape Structures Fact Sheet
- Landscape Structures Inc., was founded in 1971 by Barbara and Steve King. It is headquartered in Delano, Minn.
- The company is the premier provider of innovative park and playground equipment is committed to creating inspiring play experiences for children while honoring the environment.
- Landscape Structures has designed, manufactured, installed and delighted children with more than 80,000 playgrounds worldwide.
- Landscape Structures offers five playsystem lines: PlayBooster®, the original post and clamp system for children ages 5 to 12, PlayShaper® for children ages 2 to 5, Evos™, the playsystem that changed the shape of play for kids 5 to 12+, Weevos™, a playsystem for ages 2 to 5, and PlaySense®, for the best value on the playground. In addition, Landscape Structures manufactures Skatewave® modular skatepark equipment for communities.
- Every Landscape Structures playground and Skatewave skatepark is custom designed to your exact specifications for available space, play requirements, budget and number of children it will serve.
- While its original equipment was manufactured of wood, now Landscape Structures primarily utilizes steel, aluminum and polyethylene while continuing to develop products using recycled or reclaimed industrial and post-consumer waste.
- Steve King, who serves as chairman of Landscape Structures, is a registered landscape architect and Fellow of ASLA. He was the originator of the “continuous play” concept, which involves combining traditional playground equipment, such as slides, ladders and climbing equipment, into an endless stream of activities that stimulate a child’s physical, social and intellectual capabilities. Every year, Landscape Structures introduces innovative new products that challenge children and keep them engaged.
- In 1992, Barb and Steve King were named Minnesota’s Entrepreneur(s) of the Year by Ernst and Young, Inc. magazine and the law firm of Gray Plant Mooty. They also were recognized with a national honorable mention in the manufacturing category. As a result of this award, Barb and Steve were inducted into the National Institute of Entrepreneurs.
- In 1993, Steve King was appointed to the Federal Access Board’s Recreation Access Advisory Committee. He was the sole playground equipment manufacturer to be named to that committee.
- In 1994, Barb King, who served as president, was selected as the Small Business Administration’s “Small Business Person of the Year” for the six-state Midwest region.
- Landscape Structures received its certification to the ISO 9001:1994 standard in 1996 and to the updated ISO 9001:2008 standard in 2009. In 1998, the company received certification to ISO 14001:1996. Landscape Structures was the first playground equipment manufacturer in North America to achieve both certifications and the third company in the state of Minnesota to achieve ISO 14001:1996 certification.
- Landscape Structures was awarded 2004 Manufacturing Company of the Year by the Minnesota Association of Manufacturers.
- In 2004, Steve King was named a Fellow in the American Society of Landscape Architects (FASLA). The designation of Fellow is conferred on individuals in recognition of exceptional work of professional excellence and outstanding accomplishment over a sustained period of time.
- In May 2005, Barb King was inducted as an Honorary Member of the ASLA. The Honorary Membership title is awarded to non landscape architects whose achievements of national or international significance or influence have provided notable service to the profession of landscape architecture. Barb received the distinction of being the first spouse of an ASLA member to be inducted as an Honorary Member.
- In August 2007, Landscape Structures received Active Workplaces Funding from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota for its healthy living initiatives.
- The King Pavilion at Iowa State University's College of Design was named for Barb and Steve King in October 2007. The facility was dedicated on Aug. 24, 2009 and achieved Platinum LEED® certification in March 2010.
- In January 2008, Landscape Structures was recognized with a Minnesota Work-Life Champions™ Award for championing healthy work-life balance for employees.
- Barb King passed away in 2008 from cancer, but her passion and mission live on through her personal foundation, the Sajai Foundation®, as well as through the unique company culture she started and fostered.
- In 2008, Pat Faust was named president of the company. He has been with the company for more than 13 years, and was previously vice president of manufacturing.
- In November 2008, Landscape Structures was honored with the Tekne Green Award for its commitment to manufacturing environmentally-preferable playgrounds. The Tekne Awards honor superior technology advancement and leadership in Minnesota.
- In 2008, Landscape Structures developed a Learning Academy for parks and recreation professionals and landscape architects to gain valuable information and continuing education credits.
- Landscape Structures introduced a playground safety program for schools in April 2009. The program, featuring the Super Safety Team, Guardians of the Playground, was developed to emphasize the importance of playground safety throughout the year.
- At the 2009 NRPA Congress & Exposition, the first annual Barb King Environmental Awards were presented to a parks and recreation agency and individual for their environmental leadership.
- In 2010, Landscape Structures introduced A Higher Level of Inclusive Play™, a revolutionary playground design solution that will provide new sensory play experiences for children of all abilities, and establish new standards for inclusive playgrounds worldwide.
- To help combat childhood obesity, Landscape Structures in January 2010 announced Play Naturally™, a playground solution that encourages children and families to get outdoors and interact with their environment. By drawing kids outdoors where higher levels of play activity are available, they believe this will lead to greater physical, emotional and social well being.
- In June 2010, Landscape Structures was named to Star Tribune's Top Workplaces in the Twin Cities metro area.
- Today, Landscape Structures is one of the leading playground equipment manufacturers in the world, employing 300 people who produce the company’s products within their 350,000 plus square feet of manufacturing and distribution space. Landscape Structures playground equipment is sold by a network of more than 75 independent representative organizations around the world.
- For more information, contact Landscape Structures Inc., 601 7th Street South, Delano, MN 55328; 888.438.6574 (888.438.4FUNLSI).