Grounds For Play
Grounds For Play is a U.S. designer and manufacturer of commercial educational playground equipment, serving child care facilities, K-12 schools, multi-housing, parks, and places of worship with sustainable, research-driven outdoor play systems. The company operates as a brand under Superior Recreational Products (PlayCore).
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1983
- HeadquartersCarrollton, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Grounds For Play does
Grounds For Play is a U.S.-based designer and manufacturer of commercial outdoor playground equipment, serving child care facilities, K-12 schools, multi-housing complexes, parks and recreation departments, and places of worship. Founded in 1983 by two PhDs in Early Childhood Education, the company operates as a brand under Superior Recreational Products, which is owned by PlayCore. The company is headquartered at 1050 Columbia Drive in Carrollton, Georgia, and operates with a 101-250 employee base serving customers across the United States.
Grounds For Play's product portfolio centers on play systems, freestanding equipment (swings, spinners, spring riders), outdoor classrooms, themed play structures, and rope play systems, complemented by educational add-on components such as STEM panels (Bead, Gear, Clock, Iris), nature play elements, and outdoor learning tables. Manufacturing relies on proprietary material formulations including recycled plastic lumber posts and decks (90% recycled content), UV-stabilized HDPE activity panels, Triple Flo-Coat galvanized steel tubing (95-98% recyclable), roto-molded LDPE slides and tubes with anti-static inhibitors, and 99% stainless steel hardware. The average structure contains more than 80% recycled material by weight. The company holds IPEMA, ASTM F1487, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, PCI 4000, and GreenCircle certifications supporting institutional procurement requirements.
The business model is predominantly one-time equipment sales priced on a quote basis ranging from under $20,000 to over $60,000, paired with turnkey installation services. Distribution relies on a network of regional sales representatives, a dealer/partner representative program, and contract pricing through five major purchasing cooperatives (Sourcewell, NASPO ValuePoint, BuyBoard, GSA Advantage!, HGACBuy) that enable public agencies, schools, and nonprofits to purchase without competitive bidding. Long-tenured relationships with national child care and education operators, including Bright Horizons (since 1990), Nobel Learning Communities (2008), Goddard Schools (2012), and Kiddie Academy (2015-2016), as well as government contracts with the U.S. Army Child Development Centers (1996) and Commander Navy Installations Command (2014), provide a recurring revenue backbone alongside project-based municipal and school sales.
Grounds For Play firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Grounds For Play
- Legal name
- Grounds For Play
- Website
- https://groundsforplay.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1983
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Grounds For Play is a U.S. designer and manufacturer of commercial educational playground equipment, serving child care facilities, K-12 schools, multi-housing, parks, and places of worship with sustainable, research-driven outdoor play systems. The company operates as a brand under Superior Recreational Products (PlayCore).
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Grounds For Play industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Playground Equipment
- SIC
- Games, Toys & Children's Vehicles (No Dolls & Bicycles) (3944)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Early Childhood & Playground Equipment (Play Structures, Soft Play, Safety Surfacing) (EDAEAIAF)
Keywords
Where Grounds For Play is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Carrollton
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Grounds For Play business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Playground Equipment Sales: Direct sales of commercial outdoor playground equipment including play systems, freestanding equipment, components, outdoor classrooms, and themed play structures. Equipment prices vary by size and complexity, with budget ranges from under $20,000 to over $60,000.
- Installation Services: Turnkey installation services offered alongside equipment sales, particularly through contract pricing arrangements with purchasing cooperatives like Sourcewell.
- Contract Pricing through Purchasing Cooperatives: Pricing through national purchasing cooperatives (Sourcewell, NASPO ValuePoint, BuyBoard, GSA Advantage!, HGACBuy) allows customers to access discounted pricing without competitive bidding.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Entry-level playgrounds ($0-$20,000) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Mid-range playgrounds ($20,000-$40,000) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Premium playgrounds ($40,000-$60,000) |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Enterprise/municipal playgrounds ($60,000+) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Grounds For Play product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Grounds For Play designs, manufactures, and installs commercial outdoor playground equipment, including play systems, freestanding equipment, themed play structures, rope climbers, and outdoor classroom environments. The company emphasizes research-driven design founded by two PhDs in Early Childhood Education, using recycled and sustainable materials. They serve child care centers, schools, parks, multi-housing communities, and places of worship, with turnkey services from concept through installation, supported by purchasing cooperative contracts.
Product overview
Grounds For Play is a commercial playground equipment manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of outdoor play solutions. The product line centers on four core offerings: Play Systems (main playground structures), Freestanding equipment (independent play items like swings and spinners), Outdoor Classrooms (educational outdoor learning spaces), Themed Play structures, and Rope Play featuring the Ascend Rope Climber system. The portfolio also includes Components for customization, natural play elements, and various educational panels (Bead Panel, Gear Panel, Clock Panel, Iris Panel) that support STEM and sensory learning. Beyond playground equipment, the company provides related product lines including shade structures, shelters, site amenities, and indoor playgrounds through catalogs. All products are organized by age range (6-23 months, 2-5 years, 2-12 years, 5-12 years) and budget ranges, with downloadable publications including catalogs, maintenance guides, and grant resources.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Play Systems Main playground structures that serve as the central component of outdoor play environments, designed for various age groups (6-23 months, 2-5 years, 2-12 years, 5-12 years) and play activities. Sold to schools, child care centers, parks, and residential communities.
- Freestanding Playground Equipment
- Outdoor Classroom
- Themed Play Structures
- Rope Play (Ascend) Climbing System
- Turnkey Playground Installation Services Professional installation services offered alongside playground equipment purchases, particularly through contract pricing arrangements with purchasing cooperatives such as Sourcewell. Includes site evaluation, regulatory compliance support, and installation scheduling.
- Nature Play Equipment Standalone nature-themed playground elements including Log Tunnels, Tree Stumps, Natural Garden Bridges, Climbing Vine Planters, and Quarter Circle Planters, providing climbing, balance, and nature-based play experiences for outdoor learning settings.
Quantifiable outcome
- Average structure contains more than 80% recycled material by weight
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Grounds For Play
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Grounds For Play technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Grounds For Play partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- PlayCorecoreParent company of Grounds For Play. PlayCore is a purpose-driven company committed to building healthy communities through advancing play and recreation. They infuse scholarly learning through their Center for Outreach, Research, and Education (CORE) into their comprehensive family of brands.
- TangentcoreSupplier of recycled plastic lumber for posts and decking. Tangent holds GreenCircle Recycled Content Certification and complies with FTC 2012 Green Guidelines.
- SourcewellcoreNational purchasing cooperative allowing state and local governments, K-12 education institutions, and nonprofit organizations to access contract pricing on Grounds For Play products and installation services.
- NASPO ValuePointcoreCooperative purchasing organization for public agencies, higher education institutions, political subdivisions, and nonprofits to access discounted playground equipment pricing.
- BuyBoardcoreOnline purchasing cooperative providing nationwide access to playground equipment that has gone through a rigorous purchasing process at discounted pricing.
- GSA Advantage!coreFederal government online cooperative purchasing program allowing state and local government entities to access competitive pricing on playground equipment.
- HGACBuycoreNationwide government-operated purchasing cooperative allowing any local or state government to receive discounts on playground equipment.
- PlayCore's Center for Outreach, Research, and Education (CORE)coreResearch and education partnership providing continuing education opportunities for industry professionals. Offers live and pre-recorded virtual learning sessions on inclusive play, nature play, and playground planning. Professionals can earn CEUs through this program.
- IPEMA (International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association)coreIndustry association providing third-party certification service through TÜV SÜD America Inc. Validates manufacturer's certification of conformance to ASTM F1487 and CAN/CSA-Z614 safety standards.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Grounds For Play competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Little Tikes Commercial: Little Tikes Commercial produces commercial-grade playground equipment for child care centers, schools, and parks, with directly overlapping child care and early childhood customer segments.
- Kompan: Kompan is a global manufacturer of commercial playground and outdoor fitness equipment with strong presence in schools and municipalities, comparable to Grounds For Play in core products and customer segments but with broader international reach.
- Miracle Recreation Equipment Company: Miracle Recreation manufactures commercial playground equipment for parks, schools, and child care operators, providing directly comparable products and B2B distribution through representatives.
- Landscape Structures: Landscape Structures is a leading designer and manufacturer of commercial playground equipment serving schools, parks, and child care operators across the U.S., directly comparable in product, target customer base, and B2B sales motion.
- Play & Park Structures: Play & Park Structures designs and manufactures commercial playground equipment for schools, parks, and child care facilities, offering directly comparable products and a similar regional representative sales model.
- Superior Recreational Products: Superior Recreational Products is the parent brand of Grounds For Play under PlayCore, manufacturing commercial playground equipment, shades, shelters, and site amenities with directly overlapping products, channels, and customer base.
- Playworld: Playworld produces commercial playground and outdoor fitness equipment for schools, parks, and municipalities, serving overlapping customer segments and product categories as Grounds For Play.
- GameTime: GameTime manufactures commercial playground and fitness equipment for parks, schools, and child care facilities, with comparable product lines, U.S. manufacturing footprint, and B2B sales through representatives.
- BCI Burke: BCI Burke designs and manufactures commercial playground equipment for schools, parks, and child care, directly comparable in target customers and product category with a focus on inclusive play.
Regional players
- Playdale Playgrounds: Playdale Playgrounds is a UK-based manufacturer of commercial playground equipment, directly comparable in product category but operating primarily in the UK/Europe rather than the U.S. market where Grounds For Play is focused.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Grounds For Play social profiles
Digital presenceGrounds For Play compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Grounds For Play financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Grounds For Play leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Grounds For Play funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Grounds For Play M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Grounds For Play
What does Grounds For Play do?
Grounds For Play designs, manufactures, and installs commercial outdoor playground equipment, including play systems, freestanding equipment, themed play structures, rope climbers, and outdoor classroom environments. The company emphasizes research-driven design founded by two PhDs in Early Childhood Education, using recycled and sustainable materials. They serve child care centers, schools, parks, multi-housing communities, and places of worship, with turnkey services from concept through installation, supported by purchasing cooperative contracts.
Is Grounds For Play a public or private company?
Grounds For Play is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Grounds For Play founded?
Grounds For Play was founded in 1983. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Grounds For Play based?
Grounds For Play is headquartered in Carrollton, United States, in the North America region.
How does Grounds For Play make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Playground Equipment Sales are the primary driver. The others are installation Services and contract Pricing through Purchasing Cooperatives.
Who are Grounds For Play's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Little Tikes Commercial, Kompan, Miracle Recreation Equipment Company, Landscape Structures, Play & Park Structures, Superior Recreational Products, Playworld, GameTime and BCI Burke. Playdale Playgrounds is listed as a regional player.
Does Grounds For Play have an API?
No public API is recorded for Grounds For Play.
What industry is Grounds For Play in?
Grounds For Play's product category is Commercial Playground Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAEAIAF, Early Childhood & Playground Equipment (Play Structures, Soft Play, Safety Surfacing). Its SIC code is 3944.