Ben Shaffer Recreation
Ben Shaffer Recreation is a privately held distributor that designs, supplies, and installs commercial playgrounds and outdoor recreation products for schools, daycares, city parks, and landscape architects across New Jersey and five New England states, operating as the exclusive BCI Burke distributor for New Jersey.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1921
- HeadquartersLake Hopatcong, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Ben Shaffer Recreation does
Ben Shaffer Recreation is a privately held commercial playground and outdoor recreation equipment distributor headquartered in Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey. The company operates as the exclusive BCI Burke distributor for New Jersey and serves institutional and municipal buyers across New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. It is owned by Patty and Scott Tumminello, with the current ownership era tracing back approximately 15 years and grounded in the founders' personal experience with inclusive recreation.
The core product offering centers on BCI Burke commercial playground structures for children ages 2-12, supplemented by ELEVATE Fitness Course obstacle equipment, outdoor fitness stations, Percussion Play outdoor musical instruments, safety surfacing (engineered wood fiber, rubber, artificial turf), shade structures and shelters (Modern Shade, Icon Shelters), site amenities (Victor Stanley, Ultra Site), field and court sports products (Bison, Jaypro), and Burke Play4Pups dog park equipment. Roughly 95% of distributed products are manufactured in the United States. Service lines include planning and design with 3D visualization, funding assistance (Burke Funds for Fun, grant resources, financing), safety consulting (IPEMA / ASTM / CSA / EN 1176 certifications), maintenance support, and a Clean, Sanitize & Protect program offering up to 90 days of surface protection.
The business model is sales-led with direct field representatives (e.g., Kim Frost covering landscape architects) and quote-based project pricing on multi-year contracts. Procurement is streamlined through six cooperative purchasing organizations (Equalis Group, GOVMVMT/HGAC, GSA, NASPO ValuePoint, OMNIA Partners, Sourcewell), enabling federal, state, municipal, and educational buyers to purchase without full competitive bids. Customer segments are K-12 schools, daycare and preschool operators, city and county parks, landscape architecture firms, libraries, and universities, making customer mix highly diversified.
Ben Shaffer Recreation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ben Shaffer Recreation
- Legal name
- Ben Shaffer Recreation
- Website
- https://benshaffer.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1921
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Ben Shaffer Recreation is a privately held distributor that designs, supplies, and installs commercial playgrounds and outdoor recreation products for schools, daycares, city parks, and landscape architects across New Jersey and five New England states, operating as the exclusive BCI Burke distributor for New Jersey.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ben Shaffer Recreation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Playground Equipment Distribution
- NAICS
- Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (713990)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Early Childhood & Playground Equipment (Play Structures, Soft Play, Safety Surfacing) (EDAEAIAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services (BPAIACAI), Outdoor Recreation Equipment Distribution (Camping, Hiking, Climbing) (CRAOAJAB), Tents, Shelters & Sleep Systems Retail (CRAMAMAH)
Keywords
Where Ben Shaffer Recreation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lake Hopatcong
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Ben Shaffer Recreation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Commercial Playground Equipment Sales: Sale of commercial playground equipment including structures, climbing, sliding, spinning equipment from BCI Burke and other brand partners
- Planning & Design Services: Professional playground planning and design services including site assessment, 3D design visualization, and community engagement support
- Funding Assistance: Assistance with playground funding including access to Burke's Funds for Fun program, grant resources, and financing options
- Maintenance Services: Ongoing playground maintenance services including free maintenance kits with customized schedules, touch-up paint, and graffiti remover
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom quote-based pricing for commercial playground projects |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Ben Shaffer Recreation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ben Shaffer Recreation designs, supplies, and installs commercial playground equipment and outdoor recreation products (exclusively BCI Burke in New Jersey) for schools, daycares, municipalities, and landscape architects across the New England region. The offering bundles equipment sales with planning/design, funding assistance, cooperative purchasing facilitation, and post-installation maintenance services to deliver turnkey inclusive outdoor recreation environments.
Product overview
Ben Shaffer Recreation is a commercial playground equipment distributor serving New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, offering a comprehensive portfolio of outdoor recreation products and services. The core product offering centers on commercial playground equipment by BCI Burke (sourced exclusively), supplemented by ELEVATE Fitness Course and outdoor fitness equipment for active play environments. Additional product lines include outdoor musical instruments (Percussion Play), safety surfacing (Engineered Wood Fiber, Rubber, Artificial Turf), shade structures and shelters (Modern Shade, Icon), site amenities (Victor Stanley, Ultra Site), field and court sports products (Bison, Jaypro, NRS), and dog park equipment (Play4Pups). The company differentiates through integrated services spanning playground planning and design, funding assistance, multiple cooperative purchasing contract options, safety consulting, maintenance support, and a 90-day protection treatment service. This distributor operates as a single-vendor product line with bundled services rather than a modular platform architecture.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Commercial Playground Equipment Commercial playground equipment including climbing structures, slides, spinners, and playground systems designed for children ages 2-12, sourced exclusively from BCI Burke.
- ELEVATE Fitness Course Burke's fitness circuit equipment featuring challenging physical obstacles for ages 5-12 and 13+.
- Outdoor Fitness Equipment Outdoor fitness equipment including Burke ACTIVATE FIT series, Burke INVIGORATE Recumbent Bike, Chest Press, Elliptical, Strider, and Hand Cycle designed for all ages.
- Outdoor Musical Instruments Percussion Play outdoor musical instruments making musical expression accessible to everyone, including PlayEnsemble FlowerGarden and Babel Drum.
- Safety Surfacing Surfacing solutions including Engineered Wood Fiber, Rubber and Artificial Turf to provide safe, accessible playground surfaces.
- Shade & Shelters Fabric tension shade structures and park shelters from Modern Shade and Icon Shelters for protection from elements and outdoor gathering spaces.
- Site Amenities Park and commercial playground site amenities from Victor Stanley and Ultra Site including benches, bike racks, litter receptacles, and tables.
- Field & Court Products Sports equipment including basketball goals, soccer goals, lacrosse goals, tennis nets, volleyball nets, baseball batting cages, bleachers from Bison, Jaypro, and National Recreation Systems.
- Dog Park Equipment (Play4Pups) Burke Play4Pups dog park equipment including Ascent, 7-Sided Hoop Jump, Dog Park Welcome Sign, Leash Rack, Dog Tunnel, Dog Walk, Dog Waste Bag Dispenser, and Triple Hoop Jump for canine agility training.
- Planning & Design Services Commercial playground planning and design services including site assessment, 3D design visualization, funding assistance, delivery coordination, installation, and post-installation customer service.
- Funding Tools Playground funding assistance including Burke's Funds for Fun program, Grant Resource Center with database of Federal, State and Private Foundation grants, and financing options.
- Cooperative Purchasing Contracts Cooperative purchasing through Equalis Group, HGAC (GOVMVMT), GSA Schedule, NASPO ValuePoint, OMNIA Partners, and Sourcewell for simplified public sector procurement.
- Playground Safety Services Playground safety services including age-appropriate design, IPEMA and ASTM/CSA safety certifications, EN 1176 compliance, signage, and maintenance support with a free maintenance kit for Burke play structures.
- Commercial Playground Maintenance Maintenance services with complimentary customized maintenance schedule, manual, touch-up paint, graffiti remover, and hard-sided carrying case for Burke play structures.
- Clean, Sanitize & Protect Three-step cleaning, sanitizing and protection safety program for outdoor equipment providing protection for up to 90 days.
Companies that use Ben Shaffer Recreation
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Ben Shaffer Recreation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Ben Shaffer Recreation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- BCI BurkecoreExclusive distributor of BCI Burke commercial playground equipment in New Jersey. BCI Burke is a leading manufacturer of playground, park and recreation equipment. Ben Shaffer Recreation brings Burke's 'Play That Moves You' products to communities throughout New England.
- Victor StanleyminorSite furnishings partner offering benches, bike racks, and smart litter receptacles designed and manufactured to withstand the test of time.
- Modern ShademinorFabric tension structure manufacturer passionate about designing structures with modern appeal and structural strength.
- Icon SheltersminorShelter manufacturer providing products and services that create extraordinary levels of customer satisfaction.
- Percussion PlayminorOutdoor musical instrument manufacturer creating diverse group of instruments making musical expression accessible to everyone.
- Kay Park RecreationminorPark and commercial grade site furnishings, shade, bleachers and sports equipment provider.
- Jaypro Sports EquipmentminorSports and recreation products provider with over 60 years of experience delivering long-lasting, smoothly operating products.
- Bison Sports EquipmentminorBasketball and volleyball equipment manufacturer, also offering goals for soccer, football, and other sports.
- Greenfields FitnessminorOutdoor fitness equipment provider serving parks, schools, senior centers, greenspaces, colleges, and the U.S. military.
- Ultra SiteminorSite amenities brand providing low maintenance, durable solutions for outdoor recreation locations.
- Bark ParkminorDog park equipment manufacturer building attractive and fun places for pets and their families to exercise and socialize.
- Equalis GroupcoreInnovative cooperative purchasing organization leveraging combined buying power of members for better pricing and favorable contract terms using the lead agency model.
- GOVMVMT (HGAC)coreNon-profit group purchasing organization meeting highest industry standards while putting public interest at the forefront of cooperative purchasing.
- GSA (General Services Administration)coreFederal purchasing cooperative allowing federal parks, child development programs, military bases and other agencies to purchase Burke playgrounds through GSA contract.
- NASPO ValuePointcorePublic cooperative contracting organization providing highest level of excellence to help strengthen state and community purchasing.
- OMNIA PartnerscorePublic sector cooperative purchasing organization dedicated to serving public agencies and educational institutions nationwide with competitively solicited agreements.
- SourcewellcoreCooperative purchasing organization passionate about helping members fulfill public service missions and building practical solutions together.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Ben Shaffer Recreation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Playworld (PlayPower): Manufacturer of commercial playgrounds, fitness equipment, and site amenities sold through dealers and direct channels to schools and municipalities. Overlaps with Ben Shaffer's product mix across playground, fitness, and site amenities categories.
- Miracle Recreation Equipment Company: Manufacturer and distributor of commercial playground equipment, shelters, and site amenities sold to schools and municipalities. Comparable product mix and customer base to Ben Shaffer.
- Landscape Structures: Leading national manufacturer and direct seller of commercial playground equipment to schools, parks, and daycares. Closest comparable as a competing brand/manufacturer-distributor that Ben Shaffer effectively competes against in the same K-12 and municipal bid environments.
- Cunningham Recreation: Regional distributor of commercial playground, park, and site amenity products to schools and municipalities in the Midwest. Directly comparable business model to Ben Shaffer as a multi-brand distributor with planning, installation, and funding support services.
- Premier Park & Play: Commercial playground and outdoor recreation equipment distributor serving schools, municipalities, and daycares with planning, design, and installation services. Closely mirrors Ben Shaffer's vertical-focused distributor model.
- Play & Park Structures: Commercial playground equipment manufacturer specializing in inclusive and custom playground design for K-12, municipalities, and daycares. Direct peer in product category and inclusive design positioning.
Broad incumbents
- Kompan: Global playground and outdoor fitness equipment manufacturer with direct and dealer sales to schools, municipalities, and developers. Competes with Ben Shaffer on larger municipal and inclusive-playground bids across the Northeast.
- Little Tikes Commercial: Commercial-grade playground equipment brand serving schools, child care centers, and municipalities through dealer networks. Competes with Ben Shaffer in early-childhood and daycare playground segments.
Others
- BCI Burke Company: Manufacturer of the playground, park, and recreation equipment that Ben Shaffer exclusively distributes in NJ. Partner rather than competitor, but their other regional distributors across New England directly compete with Ben Shaffer's territory-adjacent business.
Regional players
- Hollman (HF Group): U.S. commercial playground and site furnishings distributor serving schools, parks, and developers. Similar dealer-led model in overlapping end markets, though concentrated outside the Northeast.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Ben Shaffer Recreation social profiles
Digital presenceBen Shaffer Recreation compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Ben Shaffer Recreation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ben Shaffer Recreation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Ben Shaffer Recreation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ben Shaffer Recreation 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 Ben Shaffer Recreation
What does Ben Shaffer Recreation do?
Ben Shaffer Recreation designs, supplies, and installs commercial playground equipment and outdoor recreation products (exclusively BCI Burke in New Jersey) for schools, daycares, municipalities, and landscape architects across the New England region. The offering bundles equipment sales with planning/design, funding assistance, cooperative purchasing facilitation, and post-installation maintenance services to deliver turnkey inclusive outdoor recreation environments.
Is Ben Shaffer Recreation a public or private company?
Ben Shaffer Recreation is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Ben Shaffer Recreation founded?
Ben Shaffer Recreation was founded in 1921. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Ben Shaffer Recreation based?
Ben Shaffer Recreation is headquartered in Lake Hopatcong, United States, in the North America region.
How does Ben Shaffer Recreation make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Commercial Playground Equipment Sales are the primary driver. The others are planning & Design Services, funding Assistance and maintenance Services.
Who are Ben Shaffer Recreation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Playworld (PlayPower), Miracle Recreation Equipment Company, Landscape Structures, Cunningham Recreation, Premier Park & Play and Play & Park Structures. Broad incumbents are Kompan and Little Tikes Commercial. BCI Burke Company is listed as an others. Hollman (HF Group) is listed as a regional player.
Does Ben Shaffer Recreation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ben Shaffer Recreation.
What industry is Ben Shaffer Recreation in?
Ben Shaffer Recreation's product category is Commercial Playground Equipment Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAEAIAF, Early Childhood & Playground Equipment (Play Structures, Soft Play, Safety Surfacing), with a secondary code of BPAIACAI, Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services. Its NAICS code is 71 and its SIC code is 7900.