Congratulations to PlayCreation, our 2022 Rep of the Year

2023 PlayCreation Team

We’re excited to announce that PlayCreation, our consultant covering Washington and Northern Idaho, was chosen as Landscape Structures’ 2022 Rep Organization of the Year. The award was presented to the PlayCreation team during our annual sales meeting earlier this year.

“PlayCreation was named 2022 Rep Organization of the Year because of their outstanding culture, the creativity their team brings to every aspect of the business, and their commitment to delivering the best-in-class service to their customers,” said Pat Faust, president of Landscape Structures. “PlayCreation has been a great partner of Landscape Structures as well as the playground design industry as a whole, and we are proud to have their team bringing our commercial playground equipment, shade sails and splash pad solutions to Washington and Northern Idaho.”

PlayCreation is known for developing long-term relationships, collaborating with customers to help bring their design ideas to life and continuing to deliver high-quality service for the life of the playground, splash pad and commercial shade structure. The team goes the extra mile for their customers and has fun while doing it.

“We couldn’t have done it without our customers,” said John Mullan, president of PlayCreation. “We’re fortunate to be living in these times where our job continues to get cooler because we’re helping communities throughout the area create fantastic playgrounds.”

Learn more about the team at playcreation.com.

Play Connects Us

Connections. Our lives are built around them. At Landscape Structures, we see it every day. Everywhere. This is the beauty of play. An extraordinary opportunity for interaction and imagination. Coordination and cooperation. Freedom and fun. Play lets us connect to who we are and see our wonder amplified in the connections we make. That’s why, in everything we do, we celebrate the beauty of play.

You’ll find everything you need to complete your play environment in our 2023 Playground Equipment Catalog. From new products to featured designs, individual components and outdoor fitness equipment, we’ll ensure your play space is everything you imagine and more. Browse our digital catalog, then request a copy to find inspiration for your upcoming playground projects.

Make a true impact with a fully integrated shade system for your playstructure, splash pad or any activity area. From small to big shade, decorative to themed shade, we have flexible and stylish options for everywhere people like to gather. Browse the SkyWays® Shade Products virtual catalog, then contact us to get started on a new shade project.

Our splashtastic products engage kids’ imaginations, encourage exploration and deliver exhilarating new experiences with water to people of all abilities and on splash pads of all sizes. Discover how Aquatix® water-based activities can help you create a signature destination. Browse our digital catalog, then request a copy to get started on your splash pad projects.

Celebrating the playful season

Collaborating with you this year has been a joy and a privilege. We are inspired by the work you’re doing to bring amazing play spaces to communities around the world. Thank you for your continued support. The work we’re doing together is helping bring together children of all ages, abilities and backgrounds for play.

Wishing you and yours the happiest of holidays from all of us at Landscape Structures, Aquatix and SkyWays.

Congratulations to Penchura, our 2021 Rep of the Year

Palmer Park, Port Huron, Mich.

We’re excited to announce that Penchura, our playground consultant covering Michigan and Ohio, was chosen as Landscape Structures’ 2021 Rep Organization of the Year. The award was presented to the Penchura team during our annual sales meeting earlier this year.

“Penchura was named 2021 Rep Organization of the Year because of their culture, team spirit and the best-in-class service to everyone with which they work,” said Pat Faust, president of Landscape Structures. “Penchura has been a great partner of Landscape Structures as well as the playground design industry as a whole, and we are proud to have their team bringing our playground, SkyWays® shade and Aquatix® splash pad solutions to Michigan and Ohio.”

Penchura is committed to providing great recreation spaces to communities throughout Michigan and Ohio using only the highest quality products and service. With a team made up of professional engineers, licensed landscape architects, LEED accredited professionals, designers and support staff, they’re poised to assist clients every step of the way. Penchura, one of more than 50 independent sales organizations representing Landscape Structures worldwide, has been a distributor of Landscape Structures park and playground equipment for more than 15 years.

Meet the team by watching the video below, and learn more at penchura.com.

Spin Toward Tomorrow

At Landscape Structures, we believe that play is the best way to prepare for the future. In play, we get a taste of adventure. We dare ourselves to be brave. We rely on helping hands. We extend a hand to others. We take in a 360-degree view of all that’s left to be explored, and then come back to what grounds us. We can’t predict what’s waiting around every bend, but we can prepare ourselves for the dizzying opportunities tomorrow brings.

2022 Playground Equipment Catalog

You’ll find everything you need to complete your play environment in our 2022 Playground Equipment Catalog. From new products to featured designs, individual components and outdoor fitness equipment, we’ll ensure your play space is everything you imagine and more. Browse our digital catalog, then request a copy.

2022 SkyWays® Digital Catalog

Make a true impact with a fully integrated shade system for your playstructure, splash pad or any activity area. From small to big shade, decorative to themed shade, we have flexible and stylish options for everywhere people like to gather. Browse the SkyWays® Shade Products digital catalog, then contact us to get started on a new commercial shade project.

2022 Aquatix® Digital Catalog

Our splashtastic products engage kids’ imaginations, encourage exploration and deliver exhilarating new experiences with water to people of all abilities and on splash pads of all sizes. Discover how Aquatix® water-based activities can help you create a signature destination. Browse our digital catalog, then contact us to get started on your upcoming splash pad project.

Does your community or school have relief funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)? We can help enhance your outdoor spaces, support increased maintenance needs, address learning loss and student mental health, and much more. Contact us to learn how we can support your upcoming projects.

The benefits of commercial shade sails

Positive Tomorrows, Oklahoma

We all know the physical and emotional benefits to getting outdoors. Adding shade structures to outdoor spaces can increase visitors to your community parks, playgrounds, sports and recreation complexes, and more. With the added protection of shade, play sessions can be extended making the benefits of play and outdoor activity even greater. We can help you add commercial shade sails to your outdoor areas with SkyWays® shade structures, which offers flexible and stylish options to make everywhere that people gather outside more comfortable.

To appreciate the benefits of shade, it’s important to understand the risks and long-term effects of UV radiation and sun exposure. Evidence from the Skin Cancer Foundation shows that sun exposure and sunburns during childhood multiply the risk of developing skin cancer. And according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), unprotected skin can be damaged by the sun’s UV rays in as little as 15 minutes—even when days are cool and cloudy. SkyWays commercial shade sails provide critical protection, blocking up to 97 percent of the sun’s UV rays while making temperatures underneath up to 30-degrees cooler.

When adequate shade is added to playgrounds and surrounding areas, kids are protected from UV exposure, and parents and caregivers are more likely to extend play sessions. Families may be more likely to extend their picnic or family outing if they’re keeping cool and protected under a shade. Additionally, schools are utilizing shade sails and structures to extend their classroom space to the great outdoors. By adding SkyWays shade sails to existing courtyards or a new outdoor classroom space, schools can embrace the benefits of nature for outdoor learning and not worry about sun exposure or inclement weather.

Outdoor classroom concepts

Even more, commercial shade sails can help protect your investment. Integrating SkyWays shade into your playground design or adding it after your outdoor space has been completed will shield it from the intense rays of the sun and protect it from harsh winter weather. Shade structures help to prevent premature fading and deterioration by keeping the color of equipment vibrant and preventing cracking that happens over time from sun exposure.

Learn more about SkyWays commercial shade structures, and contact your local Landscape Structures consultant to get started on a shade project for your park, playground, outdoor classroom, sports and recreation complex, or wherever you need shade today.

Encourage active lifestyles with community fitness parks

We’re excited to make the benefits of a fitness facility accessible to everyone with the introduction of HealthBeat Circuit™ Activated by FitLot®. The circular design and open layout make HealthBeat Circuit a perfect space for community circuit training classes, and the combination of equipment—for strength, cardio, balance and flexibility—creates a fully functional fitness space that can be used for a wide variety of training methods. Best of all, community-based outdoor fitness spaces create opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to achieve a more active lifestyle.

HealthBeat Circuit includes 11 fitness stations for a full-body workout. Each piece of equipment is integrated directly into the SkyWays® shade structure to provide protection from the sun while exercising. Plus, open areas within the circuit design provide comfortable space for ground work and stretching. There are 32 locations throughout HealthBeat Circuit to attach resistance bands to add even more exercise options.

Each exercise station has signage with a scannable QR code linking the user to instructional videos on FitLot.org. The Welcome Sign also features a library of movements and additional fitness tips. While this fitness system can be used effectively without additional programming, talk with your consultant about how FitLot can further enhance and help activate HealthBeat Circuit in your community. FitLot offers a Neighborhood Coaches Training Program that teaches local fitness professionals how to lead community classes for all ages and abilities

Help build a stronger and healthier future for you community by adding HealthBeat Circuit to your public space. Contact us to get started on your fitness park design today.

50 Years at Play

Many people remember the days of freestanding slides, swings and monkey bars. But in 1967, that idea of playground design advanced to interconnected play components. The revolutionary idea of combining playground activities is known as the continuous play concept, which was created by our Cofounder Steve King. As his final thesis project at Iowa State University, Steve developed a system that linked play activities together to provide a continuous challenge for children. His premise was that if kids are together on one structure, they’ll learn things that they will use in real life like social and conflict-resolution skills.

While his thesis only scored him a C+ grade, Steve took his continuous play concept to his first job as a landscape architect specializing in park planning. In 1969, he was assigned a playground design project for the City of Minneapolis where he was able to put his approach in action. His first playground was a success, which lead to more interest. And in April 1971, Steve and Barb obtained a $1,000 loan and incorporated Landscape Structures to design and build playstructures. See our company timeline here.

In an effort to provide great play experiences for kids, Landscape Structures has always been committed to innovation. Hedra®, one of our more recent inventions, allows kids to safely navigate via their own intuition and curiosity, and invent routes, games and imaginary environments. Our long-standing commitment to inclusive play is breaking barriers with the new We-Go-Swing™, the first no-transfer inclusive swing that can be integrated directly into the playground setting. Even more, the use of innovative materials and the development of colors that are truly inspired by nature is changing the world of playgrounds.

As Landscape Structures moves into its 50th year of business, we’re taking time to reflect on the power of play. We know that play and recreation has far more value than just being fun; it is essential for the health and wellbeing of communities. And that’s why our team—nearly 500 employees and the network of more than 200 playground consultants worldwide—is proud to provide unique play opportunities for all ages, abilities and backgrounds. Because no matter what’s happening in the world, we will always come back to play.

View our 2021 catalogs

Now is the time for play. If ever we’ve needed to rely on the physical, emotional and social benefits of play, it’s now. If ever we’ve needed a chance to feel fresh air, stretch our limbs and have some fun, it’s now. If ever we’ve needed to feel included, capable, understood, it’s now. No matter how much the world changes around us, play will always be an important part of shaping kids’ lives. That’s why we will always come back to play.

2021 Playground Equipment Catalog
You’ll find everything you need to complete your play environment. From new products to featured designs, individual components and fitness equipment, we’ll ensure your play space is everything you imagine and more. Browse our virtual publication, then request a copy.

2021 SkyWays Shade Products Catalog
Give kids and families much needed heat and sun protection while visiting any play, rest or activity area. From small to big shade, decorative to themed shade, we have flexible and stylish options for everywhere people like to gather. Browse the SkyWays® Shade Products virtual catalog, then contact us to get started on a new commercial shade project.

2021 Aquatix Catalog
Our imaginative designs continue to advance the world of dynamic water events—achieving new levels of chilling thrills, challenging interactive games and inventive water-based activities. Invite kids and families of all ages and abilities to immerse themselves in the brilliance of an Aquatix water experience. Browse our virtual catalog, then contact us to get started on your upcoming splash pad project.

Design Matters. Play Matters More.

For us, design refers to what a playstructure looks like as much as it does to the play value built into it. We simply cannot design one without the other. Play value is what creates return visitors. That’s why we design play environments to be fresh and exciting upon every visit. Go here to view and request a copy of the 2021 PLAY Book.

Deliver a hive of activity that sparks the imagination, facilitates discovery and lends itself to new adventure. See a few of the signature playground designs from our 2021 PLAY Book in action below.

Turn your destination playground into a legend. By design. Contact your local Landscape Structures playground consultant to get started on your next playground design.