Our Story
PDPlay began because an architect could not buy the playground he wanted, so he built it himself.
A backyard, 1994
In 1994 a frustrated architect went looking for a play structure for his own backyard, could not find one worth buying, and designed and built one by hand instead. A local community centre director saw it and asked him to build something similar for the city. That request became the company.
Wood, then something better
The first structures were wood. Over time PDPlay found recycled plastic was the better material — more durable and more sustainable than wood — and moved its manufacturing across to it. The same material carried the company into site amenities, outdoor furnishings and outdoor fitness equipment. Everything PDPlay makes from recycled plastic is designed and manufactured in the USA.
One company, start to finish
As the company grew it began working with other manufacturers whose products complemented its own, so a customer could get the whole playground from one supplier. PDPlay offers playground design, manufacturing, product sourcing and installation, so one supplier carries a project end to end.
PDPlay has also delivered public works projects for municipalities and government agencies across the country and overseas.
Where the playgrounds are
From a home base in San Diego to projects in New York, Hawaii, Japan and more, PDPlay has partnered with schools, parks, churches and municipalities — and with the branches of the U.S. armed services, building play structures on military bases in California, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia and Hawaii.
Playgrounds for this planet
PDPlay has designed around recycled materials for decades. Its post-consumer HDPE lumber puts millions of recycled milk containers back to work each year instead of into landfill, and its products count toward LEED credits.
In 2005 it was recognised as the first playground manufacturer to meet the environmental standards set by California's Collaborative for High Performance Schools. Its manufactured products do not contain PVC or phthalates, and never have.
The promise
The most important job for children under twelve is to play. Regular outdoor play makes children smarter, happier, healthier, more creative and more self-confident. PDPlay designs fully inclusive spaces so that every child can take part — because it is not enough to teach children to live in the world; they should be given reasons to love it.