What's New
PlayCore's New Corporate Campus
We are excited to announce that the PlayCore corporate headquarters has moved to a new location in downtown Chattanooga.
We’ve taken on higher visibility in our hometown, moving from a shared building to our own space. The new building is home for the corporate team as well as the sales and marketing departments for several of our brands, housing over 105 teammates.
"We're pretty happy to be here," PlayCore spokesperson Anne-Marie Spencer said during our recent open house. “Employees were spread out over several floors in the former office," she said, “but the new space provides us with closer quarters and several innovative meeting spaces to encourage creative collaboration.”
Our new address is 544 Chestnut Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402 and we’d love to give you a tour when you’re in the area.
Customer Spotlight
Hugh MacRae Park: Wilmington, NC
For the third year, Play Across America has released its list of the best playgrounds of the year in the United States. This list recognizes inspiring playgrounds across the country and acknowledges the planners, designers, and site owners for their dedication to ensuring that children of all abilities can experience the joy of play.
Topping the list this year is the all-inclusive playground designed by GameTime at Hugh MacRae Park in Wilmington, NC. GameTime, the leader in inclusive playground design, utilized the unique research found in Me2: The 7 Principles of Inclusive Playground Design® , to create the space. The foremost resource for inclusive play, Me2 was developed through a collaboration between PlayCore and Dr. Keith Christensen from Utah State University’s Center for Persons with Disabilities. With this powerhouse of inclusive know-how backing the project, it’s no wonder the space was selected as a National Demonstration Site for Inclusive Design. Designed so that children of all abilities have no limits in their play experience, the playground is a colorful testament to the power of providing play that everyone can enjoy.
Click here to see photos of Hugh MacRae Park.
Miami University of Ohio
Miami University, in Oxford, OH, has an active swim program, and is dedicated to meeting diverse recreational needs, with a primary goal of providing an environment that promotes and enhances wellness in the lives of Miami students and guests. In addition to university athletics, the site offers classes for swimming and diving for people of all ages, and has a scuba program as well.
According to John Mihovic, at the University’s Diving and Aquatic Center, “PlayCore’s Colorado Time Systems (CTS) is one of the leaders in the advancement of technology for all aquatic sports.” As such, the school trusts CTS to provide the timing, judging panels, and scoreboards for the entire facility. We congratulate the University on their dedication to advancing aquatics and swimming as fun, competitive, and meaningful activities for all.
Valley View Community School: New Hall, CA
After two years of preparation, Valley View Community School is celebrating everyone’s right to equitable play with a new inclusive playground. Constructed by Sun Country Systems, a distributor for Play & Park Structures, the new sea-themed design utilizes the unique research found in Me2: The 7 Principles of Inclusive Playground Design®. Me2, a guidebook created in partnership with PlayCore and Utah State University’s Center for Persons with Disabilities and Lekotek, provides communities with research based tools to create meaningful, healthy play opportunities for everyone. As a result of the community’s commitment to excellence in play and recreation, Valley View’s playground is now recognized as a National Demonstration Site for Inclusive Design.
Recent Events
Children and Nature Come Together in Vancouver, BC
PlayCore had the honor of partnering with and exhibiting at the Children & Nature Network Conference in Vancouver, BC. As a leading sponsor and supporter, we shared research about combining nature and the built environment, served as a sounding board in a session designed to share valuable research about engaging children in nature, and shared some of our brands’ most innovative solutions for engaging children with the natural world. To learn more about our research, and how to get children and families engaged in nature, check out NatureGrounds and Pathways for Play.
Brand Spotlight
Worlds of Wow Brings Fun to Indoor Environments
Worlds of Wow creates “ridiculously fun” play environments for churches, doctor’s offices, malls, and other indoor spaces. As one of only a few companies in the United States specializing in custom indoor theming and play, with more than 400 completed projects, they are the experts in giving your indoor space a playful functionality. They love the creative process of working with customers to develop original concepts, characters, elements, and stories, then bring them to life. They also specialize in signage, facades, and other custom creations. Click here to check out Worlds of Wow.
Everlast Climbing offers Kumiki Handholds
Everlast Climbing is pleased to feature Kumiki handholds as part of their climbing offering. A Kumiki is a Japanese interlocking wood puzzle. Like the artists that create these small, intricate masterpieces, Kumiki volumes and hand holds are made with artistry and precision, with unique pieces that craft challenging, enigmatic climbing routes.
Check out the Kumiki line.
Program Spotlight
PlayCore's Program Addresses the Planning of Spectator Seating
Choosing the right bleachers or grandstands is not always an easy task. Selecting the appropriate equipment to suit the specific needs of each facility is an important factor in providing comfort, appeal, and meaningful use. Make a Stand explores the evolution of stadiums, grandstands, and bleachers, offers features and benefits of various types of seating, addresses current standards and criteria, and provides selection, installation, and maintenance information, along with case examples that share the stories of those who have successfully implemented projects in their community and/or school.
National Demonstration Site Program
The National Demonstration Site™ (NDS) program captures a community’s commitment to advance play and recreation, and recognizes their efforts through a comprehensive recognition program. Research and guidebooks in outdoor fitness, inclusive play, nature play, and youth fitness provide the foundation for the NDS program and inspire communities to build park and recreation spaces utilizing best practices and designs established by scholars and experts in respective fields. If you'd like to find out more about building a best practice NDS project in your community, click here for details.
Accolades
Southern Fulfillment Center: Awarded for 20 Years of ISO
PlayCore's Southern Fulfillment Center (SFC), located in Fort Payne, AL, recently received the President's Award for Commitment from SRI Quality System Registrar (SRI). The facility received the recognition for continuously maintaining International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification for the last 20 years.
Social Media Spotlight
Power Systems Fitness Blog
The mission of Power Systems is to “Power Your Potential” by advancing health, fitness, and performance by being a resource to their customers. In support of their mission, Power Systems has launched a blog dedicated to fitness. The blog contains resources related to fitness training, products, and brands to help “power your potential”.
