The possibilities are endless and unlimited.
If you can imagine it, we can create it.

Play by Design is a group of playground designers and building consultants who work with community volunteers to produce custom-designed play structures for toddlers, preschool, and school-aged children. All members of our team are Certified Playground Safety Inspectors (CPSI) with broad experience in the community-built field as former employees of a world-renowned playground architect. Examples of our work during that employment can be found throughout North America, as well as in Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.

Our mission is to create unique, safe, and affordable all-inclusive play structures that provide a recreational environment in which all children can grow physically, socially, and cognitively. Our creative structures are well known for their inclusion of imaginative play and sensory-stimulating activities.

Our process is one that unifies communities and empowers their members by bringing them together to design, organize, and construct one-of-a-kind playgrounds and park structures. What sets these structures apart from commercially available playground equipment is the aesthetically sensitive architecture that respects the essence of the surrounding area and reflects its historical, architectural, and cultural features. What makes them treasured assets in their communities is the sense of pride, ownership, and accomplishment built into them by the hands of volunteers.

Community Builds
Inclusive Structures
2nd Generation Playgrounds
Hybrid
Natural Play
Elders’ Playgrounds

Standards

We adhere to the highest standards of design and construction, and offer a wide palette of materials, to satisfy any working budget or request. Play by Design is fully insured. We guarantee the craftsmanship and quality of our playgrounds. Specified materials carry the manufacturer’’s warranty. We comply with all ASTM, CPSC and ADA standards and guidelines. We stand behind our product. For the life of the playground, our maintenance department is available to address concerns and answer questions.

Materials

We are well versed in the use of local native materials such as naturally rot resistant black locust, cedar and larch to name a few. Additionally we have vast experience working for years with child friendly pressure treated lumber, recycled composite wood / polymer lumber (ie. TREX), and post consumer structural plastic lumber.

Safety

As nationally certified playground safety inspectors, we consider safety paramount to all of our designs. All of our structures are built in compliance with current ASTM International standards, Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) guidelines, and the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines, which will soon be released. Our designers and builders are National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) Certified Playground Safety Inspectors (see nrpa.org). Safety surfacing meets ASTM guidelines for impact attenuation and accessibility.

Accessibility

We at Play By Design believe that an inclusive playground should do more than meet technical standards. We believe in providing shoulder-to-shoulder play opportunities for children of all abilities. We comply with ADA playground guidelines. All safety surfacing is wheelchair-accessible, and many playgrounds include ramping so that children can play with elevated components. Components can also be included for children with visual, hearing, developmental, emotional and social impairments. We work closely with a special-needs coordinator on many of our community-built projects.