Barb King

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"Our highest purpose is to make a difference in the world - create a better place for children and families."

Barb King
Cofounder

Barb King passed away in 2008 after a seven-month battle with cancer, but her passion and legacy live on. As cofounder and president of Landscape Structures, she was both an accomplished marketer and operations leader, yet still remarkably down-to-earth and close to her employees.

She advocated an open, friendly and empowering culture at Landscape Structures, ensuring that every one of the more than 300 employees had an equal voice in suggesting change, improvement and progressive action for the company.

Playground products shown in video may not be appropriate for every age group. Playsystems shown in video are for demonstration purposes only. Product configurations may vary.

Video features the memory of Landscape Structures co-founder Barb King.

[video: scene fades into a pink silk background billowing in the breeze as soft piano music plays. White text fades into the center of the screen reading: Barb King. The text fades away as new text fades in reading: 1946-2008. That text fades as new text fades in reading: Co-founder of Landscape Structures. Fade to black.]

[video: fade in to a view up at Barb King as she holds onto a microphone and turning to her right. Scene fades to black, fade in to a black and white of Barb wearing a visor and an apron while she looks down. Screen fades to black and back into a view of Barb laughing with people while they stand at a convention next to a standing seesaw. Fade to black, fade back into a still image of Barb smiling and sitting at the top of a large red rock structure. Scene fades to black.]

[video: fade into a blue silk background billowing in the breeze as white text appears reading: 1992 Entrepreneur of the Year, State of Minnesota Induction into National Institute of Entrepreneurs Outstanding Business Woman of the Year. Fade to black.]

[video: fade into a slow zoom into a still image of a portrait of Barb King. Fade to black and into a black and white image. Scene slowly zooms in on Barb and Steve smiling while standing on a playground as children sit around them. Fade to black and into a color image of Barb sitting on a wood bench system. Fade to black and fade back into a blue wrinkled background as white text appears reading: 1994 Small Business Person of the Year, Midwest Six-State Region, 2000 Woman Business Owner of the Year. Fade to black.]

[video: fade into Barb as she walks out from the shades across a stage wearing a light blue dress. She does a slight bow to the crowd and a curtsy. Scene switches to a still image of a young Barb smiling while whiling onto a brown horse’s bridle. Switch to a still image of Barb and Steve seated at chairs on a stage holding microphones and large books in their laps. Switch to a still image of Barb smiling to the camera wearing a red scarf. Switch to a vertical pan of a portrait of Barb standing at a Mobius climber outside the Landscape Structures office. Scene switches to different shapes of a pink squared background. The squares flow across the screen as white text appears reading: Barb King 1946 – 2008 A Great Leader.]

[video: scene zooms into a still image of an elevated shot of all the Landscape Structures employees outside the office building. The scene zooms in on Steve and Barb King in the large crowd of people. Switch to the scene zooming out from a still image of Steve and Bard smiling on the back of a teal motorcycle. Friends stand behind them leaning peddle bikes. Scene switches to Barb speaking at a podium. Scene switch to the camera zooming in on a red table card with a portrait of Barb and white text reading: Congratulations Barb King, LSI President, who has been named an honorary member of ASLA.]

[video: scene switches to a blue background with moving white hazed swirls. White text appears in the center of the screen reading: 2004 Awarded Honorary Membership American Society of Landscape Architects Manufacturer of the Year. Scene switches to Barb speaking at a podium while Steve stands behind her. Camera zooms out to a full view of the stage where Barb is speaking to a crowded room with a large projection screen of her speaking to the left of the stage. Scene switches to Barb walking across a Landscape Structures convention booth. Scene switches to Barb and Steve as they carry a large banner together across their convention booth. Scene switch to Barb speaking at a podium with a plaque on the front reading: Hilton Minneapolis. Scene switches to Barb speaking at a podium as she holds up a microphone to her face and smiles.]

[video: scene switches to a blue silk background billowing the breeze, white text appears reading: 2007 Created the Säjai® Foundation to combat childhood obesity.]

[video: scene switches to a still image of Barb and Steve smiling near a table with playground components. Scene switches to the camera zooming in on a still image of Barb King. Scene switches to a vertical pan up a still image of Barb smiling while walking through a parking lot. Scene fades to white where Barb King reports at a Landscape Structures playground.]

Barb: We’re the greatest aspects this business and the most rewarding is definitely to know that we’re making a difference in kids lives and all the users of our playground equipment. It’s just really rewarding to come out to a playground and see all these smiling faces we really do make exceptional fun.

[video: scene switches to Steve and Barb as they report at a playground.]

Barb: Undoubtedly and for most of mine to me is the people that have brought us here the vendors, the employees, sales, reps, customers, and obviously the kids.

[video: Steve nods in agreement as Barb speaks while children play all over the playground behind them. Fade to black and into a blue background with white hazy start shapes. White text appears reading: 2007 & 2008 Honored as Minnesota Work-Life Champion, Center for Ethical Business Cultures.]

[video: fade into a still image of Barb smiling while standing next to a man presenting an award. Fade to black and into a still image of Barb and Steve posing for a photo. Barb holds the Christian Peterson Design Award and while Steve holds the framed paper award. Fade to black.]

[video: scene fades into a man as he speaks about Barb King. White text appears in the lower left corner of the screen reading: Joe M. Lifelong Landscape Structures Employee.]

Joe: Because of the, the partnership of Steve and Barb they each bring something different we wouldn’t have the success that we’ve had, had we not had that good marriage in both their personal life and here at work is a very, very good I’m sure without Barb at the helm we wouldn’t be here.

[video: scene fades to black and into a pink silk background. White text appears in the middle of the screen reading: Barb King 1945 – 2008 A Great Person. Fade to black.]

[video: fade into a still image of Barb holding sleeping on her shoulder. Fade into a still image of Barb and Steve with a young baby girl sitting on a playground. Fade into a still image Barb wiping the hair from the face of a baby girl wearing a life jacket. Fade into Barb holding a baby wearing a sun hat at the beach. Fade into a still image of Barb and Steve in some one’s group family wedding photo. Fade into a still image of Barb smiling while hugging a woman. Fade to black.]

[video: a man standing at a playground speaks about Barb King. White text appears at the bottom of left corner of the screen reading: Paul C. Installer Partner.]

Paul: The one thing I remember is Barb King dancing all night with everyone.

Paul voiceover: She would dance the whole night you know she would be one of the last ones to leave. Steve always let early but our boys stayed and danced with everyone.

[video: a man in a white suit and a white top hat adjusts his microphone attached to his ear as Barb and other employees clap and dance behind him on a stage in front of a crowd. Scene fades into Barb and another woman as they goof off at a playground. They giggle at themselves.]

Barb: I want to make sure I wasn’t doing this.

[video: Barb holds a folder out far from her face and pulls in close as she smiles and laughs. Side view of Barb as she stands by a double slide and talks to a different camera off screen.]

Barb: You could do it better why not do it.

Barb voiceover: Origin new paths. Change is a good thing at Landscape Structures.

[video: Barb looks down at the ground as she walks towards the camera holding onto her script. Camera zooms in on Barb and she sits on the playground straightening her papers and laughing. Camera zooms in for a side view of Barb as she smiles. Scene switch to Barb swinging towards the camera in slow motion as she smiles. Camera switches to a close-up of Barbs feet as she pumps her feet on the swing. Camera switches to the top half of Barb as she swings. The camera comes into focus on a playground Welcome sign behind Barb as she swings. Camera switches to a side view of Barb as she gently swings looking out at the park. Camera switches to a front view of Barb as she swings. A young girl slides down a slide in the background. Scene switch to a close-up of Barb as she smiles and shakes her head in agreement to something. A young girl plays in the mulch behind her. Scene fades into Barb walking in slow motion away from the camera at a park. Fade to black and into a still image of Barb and Steve smiling while sitting on a playground rock climber and holding onto two young girls. White text appears in the left corner of the screen reading: Our highest purpose is to make a difference in the world create a better place for children and families. – Barb King]

[video: fade to black.

Säjai® Foundation

Barb was committed to children and passionate about showing them how to lead healthier lives and appreciate nature. In this spirit, Barb created the Säjai® Foundation, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching children the value of healthy living by encouraging them to experience the outdoors, be active and make smart nutrition choices.

In May 2013, Barb's legacy gained more nationwide reach when the Säjai Foundation® merged with Camp Fire, an organization emphasizing camping and other outdoor activities for youth. Camp Fire serves more than 250,000 youth and families in communities across the country.

Barb King Inspiration Park

In 2010, the Barb King Inspiration Park was completed in Delano, MN, as a unique playground honoring a unique person. The novel angles, innovative panels and inclusive activities welcoming children of all abilities have become a central gathering space for the Delano community. The park was assembled from recycled materials in honor of Barb’s commitment to the environment and innovation.

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