Recreation Today

What Recreation Today does

Recreation Today is a privately held, family-owned commercial playground and outdoor recreation equipment distributor headquartered in Nampa, Idaho. The company manufactures and distributes commercial-grade playground structures under its proprietary KidsTale brand (including Maximo, Minimo, and Nexus series), and operates the Barks and Rec sub-brand for dog park equipment. Its product catalog spans more than 457 SKUs across commercial playgrounds, site furnishings, shade structures, shelters, sports and fitness equipment, and water play products, with pricing for shade structures ranging from approximately $5,000 to $17,000 per unit and playground equipment priced via quote based on configuration.

The company's go-to-market is dual-channel: a direct B2B sales motion targeting municipalities, K-12 schools, parks and recreation departments, HOAs, churches, commercial developers, healthcare facilities, and senior centers, paired with an e-commerce website that supports product browsing and quote requests. A structural distribution advantage comes from approved vendor status on four government purchasing cooperatives — GSA Schedule, MASPO ValuePoint, BuyBoard, and HGACbuy — which streamlines procurement for federal, state, and local government buyers. Distribution partnerships with Gared (sports equipment) extend the sports and fitness category without in-house manufacturing.

Recreation Today operates a full-service model that monetizes beyond product sales through professional services: design and planning, installation by NRPA and NPCAI-certified installers (backed by a one-year labor guarantee), CPSI-certified safety inspections, CPSI training courses, funding assistance, maintenance contracts, and an equipment leasing program. Revenue mix is dominated by one-time equipment sales with a small recurring component from leasing, maintenance, and safety inspection services. The company is privately owned with no disclosed funding rounds, acquisitions, or parent company, and serves the United States market exclusively.

Name

Recreation Today

Legal name

Recreation Today

Website

https://rectoday.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Recreation Today is a privately held Idaho-based distributor of commercial playground, site furnishing, shade, shelter, and outdoor recreation equipment, serving municipalities, schools, and developers via direct B2B sales and government purchasing cooperatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Playground and Outdoor Recreation Equipment

NAICS

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), Landscaping Services (561730)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Miscellaneous Furniture & Fixtures (2590), Games, Toys & Children's Vehicles (No Dolls & Bicycles) (3944)

akta.pro primary industry

Physical Education & Athletics Equipment (Gym, Sports Gear, Scoreboards) (EDAEAIAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Outdoor Furniture & Shelter Systems (Tents, Tarps, Hammocks) Retail (CRAMAAAJ), Tents, Shelters & Sleep Systems Retail (CRAMAMAH)

Keywords

• Commercial playground equipment
• Outdoor site furnishings
• Shade and shelter structures
• Dog park equipment
• Outdoor fitness equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Nampa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Commercial Playground Equipment Sales: Sale of commercial-grade playground structures including Quick Ship series, Maximo series, Nexus series, Minimo series, and specialty equipment like GaGa pits. Products sold through direct quote requests.
2. Site Furnishings Sales: Sale of site amenities including benches, picnic tables, trash cans, bike racks, grills, and dog park equipment. Products offered in various materials and configurations.
3. Shade and Shelter Structures: Sale of shade structures including sail shades, cantilever shades, umbrella shades, hip shades; and shelter buildings in various shapes and sizes.
4. Sports and Fitness Equipment: Sale of outdoor sports equipment including basketball systems, soccer goals, volleyball standards, tetherball systems, and commercial fitness equipment.
5. Professional Services: Installation services with one-year certified labor guarantee, safety inspections, CPSI certification courses, planning services, and funding assistance.
6. Leasing: Equipment leasing options for customers who prefer financing over upfront purchases.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Recreation Today designs, supplies, and installs commercial playground equipment, engineered shade and shelter structures, site furnishings (benches, trash cans, bike racks, grills, picnic tables), Barks and Rec dog park equipment, and outdoor sports and fitness equipment for organizations such as municipalities, schools, parks departments, developers, HOAs, churches, healthcare facilities, and military bases. The company pairs its equipment catalog with end-to-end services including site design, installation, safety inspections, CPSI training courses, funding assistance, maintenance, and leasing programs.

Product overview

Recreation Today is a commercial playground and outdoor recreation equipment provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of products across multiple categories. The core offering includes commercial playground equipment spanning multiple series (Quick Ship for rapid delivery, Maximo for large-deck installations, Nexus for physical development, and Minimo for space-constrained locations) featuring slides, climbers, and structures. The site furnishings line encompasses benches (Roll Formed Perforated, Diamond, U-Leg, Dog Park variants), trash receptacles, bike racks, grills, and ADA-compliant tables. The Barks and Rec sub-brand provides complete dog park solutions including agility equipment (Tunnel Run, Tug Around, Hoop Jump, Ramp and Steps, Stepping Riser, Sky Crossing, Teeter Totter), wash stations, and bundled kits (The Pup, The Hound, The Starter, The Dingo, The Bow Wow, The Bone Yard, The Essentials) for various space requirements. Shade structures (Sail, Cantilever, Umbrella, Hip) and shelters (Standard, Hexagon, Octagon) address outdoor coverage needs. Sports and fitness products include basketball systems (Economy, Endurance, Pro Series, Collegiate Series), soccer goals, volleyball standards, tetherball, and outdoor fitness equipment. Beyond products, Recreation Today offers integrated services including design and planning, professional installation with NRPA/NPCAI-certified labor, safety inspections by CPSI-certified inspectors, CPSI training courses, funding assistance, maintenance, and leasing options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Barks and Rec: Dog park equipment brand featuring agility course items, dog benches, waste stations, and wash facilities.

Products and services

• Commercial Playground Equipment - Maximo Series Commercial-grade modular playground system designed for older children in public parks, schools, and community spaces, featuring larger play structures and higher capacity components.
• Commercial Playground Equipment - Nexus Series Commercial modular playground system engineered for community and school environments with versatile component configurations for varied age groups.
• Commercial Playground Equipment - Minimo Series Smaller-scale commercial playground system designed for early childhood and toddler play areas in schools, daycare, and parks.
• Quick Ship Playground Kits Pre-engineered playground kits configured for expedited delivery and installation, enabling faster project completion for time-sensitive community projects.
• iKubes Playground System Modular cube-based playground structure providing configurable play elements for public and institutional play environments.
• Engineered Shade Structures Commercial shade structures designed to provide UV and heat protection over playgrounds, seating areas, and gathering spaces in parks, schools, and community facilities.
• Shelters and Pavilions Pre-engineered shelters and pavilions for parks, schools, and commercial properties, providing covered gathering and picnic space for community use.
• Site Furnishings - Benches, Trash Receptacles, Bike Racks, Grills, and Picnic Tables Commercial-grade site furnishings line including benches, trash and recycling receptacles, bike racks, park grills, and picnic tables for public and institutional outdoor spaces.
• Buddy Bench Specialty anti-bullying bench designed for school playgrounds to provide an identified, inclusive seating spot where students can signal they need a friend or peer support.
• Barks and Rec Dog Park Equipment Dedicated dog park equipment line including agility obstacles, dog-friendly play features, and complete dog park kits for residential developments, municipalities, and HOAs.
• Sports Equipment (Basketball, Soccer, Volleyball, Tetherball) Outdoor sports equipment including basketball goals, soccer goals, volleyball systems, and tetherball sets for parks, schools, and community recreation areas.
• Outdoor Fitness Equipment Outdoor fitness stations and exercise equipment designed for public parks, trails, and community wellness areas, supporting adult and senior fitness programs.
• Design and Planning Services Custom playground and site design services, including 2D/3D layouts, age-appropriate zoning, surfacing specifications, and budget planning for new and renovation projects.
• Installation Services Professional installation of playground equipment, shelters, shades, site furnishings, and dog park equipment by in-house crews, including site preparation and safety surfacing.
• Safety Inspection and CPSI Training Course Playground safety inspections performed by Certified Playground Safety Inspectors (CPSI) plus a CPSI training course for facility owners and staff to maintain ongoing compliance.
• Funding Assistance Grant and funding identification and application support service that helps schools, municipalities, and nonprofits secure financing for playground and recreation projects.
• Maintenance and Repair Services Ongoing maintenance, inspection follow-up, and repair services for playground equipment, surfacing, and site furnishings to extend asset life and maintain safety compliance.
• Equipment Leasing Program Leasing program that allows qualifying buyers to spread the cost of playground, shade, and recreation equipment over time instead of a single capital outlay.

Quantifiable outcome

• One-year certified labor guarantee on installations in select areas

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GSA (General Services Administration)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFederal government purchasing program allowing government buyers to purchase Recreation Today playground and recreation equipment through pre-negotiated contract terms.
• MASPO ValuePointcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional purchasing cooperative through which government entities can procure Recreation Today products under pre-approved contract terms.
• BuyBoardcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational purchasing cooperative serving government entities including schools, cities, and nonprofits, enabling streamlined procurement of playground equipment.
• HGACbuycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGovernment purchasing cooperative (operated by HGAC) for public procurement of recreation equipment and outdoor amenities.
• KidsTalecoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerLicensed product line of commercial playground equipment featuring Maximo, Minimo, and Nexus series with various configurations for different age groups and space requirements.
• Barks and RecminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerProprietary dog park equipment brand including agility obstacles, benches, wash stations, and complete dog park kits sold under the Barks and Rec label.
• GaredminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerSports equipment manufacturer whose basketball systems, soccer goals, volleyball standards, and tetherball systems are distributed through Recreation Today.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Gared Sports: Gared Sports manufactures basketball systems, soccer goals, volleyball standards, and other outdoor sports equipment sold through Recreation Today — a directly comparable peer in the outdoor sports/fitness category.
• BCI Burke Company: BCI Burke manufactures commercial playground equipment, site furnishings, and outdoor fitness products serving parks, schools, and HOAs through cooperative contracts — closely comparable to Recreation Today's full portfolio.
• PlayPower (Playworld / Superior): PlayPower owns multiple commercial playground brands (Playworld, Superior, Miracle) and is a large direct competitor selling turnkey playground, shade, and site amenity solutions to parks and schools across the U.S.
• GameTime: GameTime is one of the largest U.S. manufacturers of commercial playground equipment, serving parks, schools, and municipalities through direct sales and cooperative contracts — directly overlapping Recreation Today's core playground offering and customer base.
• Frog Furnishings: Frog Furnishings designs and manufactures commercial-grade site furnishings (benches, picnic tables, trash receptacles, bike racks) for parks and schools — directly comparable to Recreation Today's site furnishings category.
• Landscape Structures: Landscape Structures is a leading designer and manufacturer of commercial playground and park structures with deep municipal and K-12 school relationships, competing head-to-head with Recreation Today on playground systems and inclusive play design services.
• Little Tikes Commercial: Little Tikes Commercial is a sister division focused on early-childhood playground equipment for daycares, preschools, and elementary schools, directly overlapping Recreation Today's KidsTale Minimo and Ages 2–5 lines.
• UltraShade / USA Shade: USA Shade & Fabric Structures manufactures commercial shade sails, hip-end, and cantilever shade structures for parks, playgrounds, and schools — directly comparable to Recreation Today's Shade product family.
• Poligon (by Porter Corp): Poligon is a leading manufacturer of engineered steel park shelters, pavilions, and shade structures serving municipalities and schools — directly comparable to Recreation Today's Standard, Hexagon, and Octagon shelter lines.

Broad incumbents

• Kompan: Kompan is a global, design-led commercial playground and outdoor fitness equipment manufacturer with a strong U.S. presence through Kompan Inc.; competes with Recreation Today on premium playground systems, outdoor fitness, and inclusive play.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/recreation2day
• Facebookfacebook.com/Recreation-Today-100064605402883
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/recreation-today-of-idaho

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Recreation Today