History of Innovation

To see an illustrated timeline of "firsts" from Landscape Structures, click here.

PLAYSTRUCTURE DESIGN

• Originated the concept of continuous play (Steve King), 1967
• First post-and-clamp-based play system for unlimited configuration (PlayBooster®, Mexico Forge), 1981
• First composite play system for children ages 2 to 5 (AdventureScape), 1985
• First gyroscopic play system for ages 5 to 12+ changes the shape of play and addresses childhood obesity (Evos®), 2007
• First tree house playground structure with realistic, durable GFRC tree bark climbers, hand-carved kid-engineered look. Designed to get children outside to play and to encourage the interaction between children and nature (Tree House), 2010

PLAY EVENT FIRSTS

• First fitness trail system, VitaCourse, 1977
• First enclosed-trolley  Track Ride, 1980
• First  Corkscrew Climber, 1987
• First  Talk Tubes, 1990
• First modular, molded edger/retainer system, TuffTimbers™, 1993
• First segmented multi-directional open slide in playground industry,  SlideWinder, 1994
• First multi-age play event, Spring Ring® Bouncer, 1996  
• First in overhead events,  Triple Ring Fling™, 1998
• CableCore® Climbing Cable, 1999
• First play equipment to feature a licensed character, Arthur™, 1999
• Skatewave® modular steel/ PVC community skatepark equipment, 2001
• Skatewave® 3.0, 2004
• First innovative climbers featuring Corocord® Climbing cable integrated into a playstructure, 2004
• First natural climber to integrate children in nature with a play structure, The Ridge, 2004
• First playground climber that integrates art and play,  Mobius® Climbers, 2005
• First natural climbers specifically designed to integrate with PlayBooster,  The Pinnacle™ Natural Climber and The Pointe™ Natural Climber, 2007
• First natural-looking climbing stones introduced for preschoolers (The Peak™ Natural Climber and The Stepper™ Natural Climbing Stone), 2010
• Pulse™, the first multisensory, intuitive, interactive games that incorporate music and help develop healthy sportsmanship, 2013

SITE FURNISHINGS / AMENITIES

• First in industry  PVC coated benches and tables, 1982
• First shade system that integrates into a play structure,  CoolToppers®, 2001

ACCESSIBILITY

• First  transfer system for providing access to play structure for children in wheelchairs, 1993
• First multi-rider accessible glider, Sway Fun®, 2002
• First playground equipment manufacturer to  advocate for a Higher Level of Inclusive Play by introducing the category of Sensory Play and bringing better playgrounds to all, 2010

ENGINEERING / MATERIALS

• First introduction of  TenderTuff™ coating (PVC based coating) on decks and handholds, 1981
• Use of  Permalene® panels (compression molded polyethylene), 1985
• Super-durable powdercoating, 1999
• Implementation of  ProShield™ Finish, 2008
• First to offer Recycled Permalene®  panels offering a durable, yet green option with 73% post-consumer content, 2010

SAFETY

• First to use fully enclosed  bolt links to replace S-hooks on swings, 1992
• First to use sliding footers on slides to prevent warping and cracking, 1994
• Promoted safety at elementary schools with the Arthur™ playground safety program, 1999
• Launched Super Safety Team program to teach students safety on the school playground, 2009
• Landscape Structures introduces a design, technology and safety into one high-performance surfacing solution, PebbleFlex®

SPECIAL EVENTS

• Skatewave® Demo Tour, covering 12,000 miles, brought a modular skatepark and expert riders to 32 location across the U.S. and Canada, 2005

CORPORATE

• First U.S. playground equipment manufacturer to achieve  ISO 9001 Certification - customer-focused commitment to quality products and processes, 1996; Certified to ISO 9001:2000 standard, 2003 and ISO 9001:2008, 2009
• Steve King receives Japan's G-Mark International Design Award for design of an AdventureScape, 1998
• Initiated Continuous Improvement focus on lean manufacturing to ensure efficient processes, products, on-time deliveries and longer warranties, 1999
• Landscape Structures becomes employee-owned company, 2004 
• Steve King named Fellow, American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), 2004
• Steve King, founding member, named President of IPEMA (International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association), 2004
• First playground equipment manufacturer to partner with National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), 2009

SUSTAINABILITY

• First U.S. playground equipment manufacturer and seventh company in the state of Minnesota to achieve the highest standard for environment commitment  ISO 14001 Certification for conservation and recycling process, 1998, and the updated 14001:2004 standard, 2005
• Landscape Structures Inc. was recognized as a Minnesota Waste Wise Leader for its outstanding waste reduction and recycling efforts, 2006
• Landscape Structures created a program to recycle all packaging materials by partnering with our supplier to recycle the foam/scrim material, the grey and white sheets that are layered between the large painted parts on a new playground delivery, 2009 
• Voluntarily began to measure, verify, and publicly report greenhouse gas emissions to The Climate Registry, 2009
• The King Pavilion addition to the ISU College of Design was the first higher-education building in Iowa to achieve LEED® Platinum certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), 2010.
• Started publishing our environmental aspirations and commitments with all of our stakeholders in the our first corporate sustainability report, 2010

• Launched recycled Permalene® panels created from recycled, colored plastic household containers - waste materials that would otherwise end up in landfills - and offers a post-consumer recycled content of 73%, 2010