When schools and parks first started installing playground equipment, they gave little thought to the playground surface materials that they used. Read More

Fall is perhaps the best season for outdoor play, when picnic areas are not overheated by grills and children can play for hours without overexerting. Read More

September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month and in truth, it is a rare person who does not realize that America's children are suffering from obesity at greater rates than ever before. Read More

Infants and toddlers are in the middle of the most rapid period of growth and change they will ever... Read More

Planning a park space is often a journey of several years rather than a onetime endeavor. As with any project, as your space matures and you get feedback from guests you are sure to discover little things that are missing or that you wish you had thought of during the initial design phase.  Read More

Follow the ultimate guide to create a timeless playground for children of any age... Read More

here is no doubt that playgrounds have changed a lot since many of us were children. A broad focus on safety, environmental concerns and rapid advances in technology have merged together to create playgrounds that are safer and more fun than ever. Read More

Planning a park space is often a journey of several years than than a onetime endeavor. Read More

Planning and installing a new playground can be an exciting, if somewhat daunting task. To help you develop a better understanding of how much time the entire process takes we have outlined the basic phases of playground planning and installation.  Read More

Playgrounds are a major investment and a key part of creating and maintaining a community that focuses on healthly recreation.  Read More

Adding reliable shade to public spaces greatly increase the amount of time people can comfortably spend outdoors. Determine if a shade structure is right for you. Read More

Surfacing is often the last thing considered when our clients describe their playground concept; in fact, many customers have not considered playground surfacing at all. Read More

According to the ASPCA, there are between 70 and 80 million dogs in the United States. People have shared their homes with dogs for so long that some experts believe that common behaviors, like barking, have evolved in order to communicate with human roommates.  Read More

Independent, or free standing playground equipment as it is sometimes called, is any equipment not attached to a larger playground structure. This equipment is an extremely practical way to make your playground more appealing to a wider range of children.  Read More

Whether you are planning on purchasing a commercial swing set for your playground or already have one, it's important to understand how to maintain them. Read More

Most educators can tell you stories about long waits for budget approvals and typically the bigger the commitment the longer the wait. Big purchases, like a playground, tend to spend more time in committee than the average supply order. Read More

Dehydration is a leading cause of emergency room visits during the summer months. Whether you are constructing a park or improving your community's public spaces, plan to prioritize heat relief. Read More

Adding a picnic area to your community is a great way to encourage active, healthy lifestyles and encourage residents to socialize together.  Read More

Planning a playground should be a fun, creative exercise and if you're working with a professional designer who is certified in playground safety, you can leave the worrying to them and focus on your vision. Whether you're planning a simple play space for use by a few children or a gigantic mega structure that can entertain dozens of children, we have three tips to help you get started on the right foot. Read More

We are frequently asked why our playgrounds are separated by age and what these separations mean exactly. Finally, here's everything you need to know about how we determine how to separate playgrounds by age. Read More

As the saying goes, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Even though playgrounds have received major safety and aesthetic upgrades since many of us were children, the basics elements that compose an engaging playground have stayed the same.  Read More

Playgrounds are designed to withstand everything the environment and children can throw at them but they still need TLC to help keep them safe Read More

Purchasing a playground is a major investment that signifies a commitment to the health and happiness of children in your community. Although planning and purchasing a playground is always exciting, everyone wants to know that they received the best deal as well as the best product. Read More

Want to add even more fun to your playground this spring? Why not host a costume party! Read More

Playing a sport can be one of the biggest commitments a child can make. Choosing a sport, joining a team and practicing regularly are unique experiences that can't be replicated by other activities.  Read More

The odds of any child becoming a professional athlete are pretty slim, but the odds of a child becoming a professional collaborator are pretty high Read More

Despite the wacky weather, spring is on the way! As our thought turn to longer days, warmer weather and more outdoor activity, it's a good time to think about moving some or your lessons outdoors.  Read More

According to the CDC, Childhood obesity has more than doubled in the last 30 years while only about 29 percent of high school students exercise 60 minutes or more each day.  Read More

With most parents working 40 or more hours a week it's hard to find ways to worry about adult fitness, let alone children's fitness, but the reality is that America's families are struggling to stay fit. Read More

Generally, when we're approached by customers who wish to purchase or design a play structure, their main goal is to get kids outside and keep them safely entertained Read More

Heart disease is the number one cause of death and disability in America today. According to the CDC, it's also one of the most preventable causes of death in our country. Read More

Creating an inclusive environment gives children the opportunity to grow and learn together. This environment must be fostered in the classroom and out. Read More

Whether you are planning a brand new park or making additions to an existing one, BYO Recreation is here to help you from start to finish! The first step is planning. Read More

Family Health & Fitness Day (FHFD) gives families and communities nationwide the opportunity to get involved and get active as a family. September 28, 2013 marks the 17th annual FHFD. Read More

This summer we installed one of our best-selling Create Play structures, the Caterpillar Crawl, at The King & Bear in Saint Augustine, FL. Read More

Childhood obesity is an epidemic in the United States, with more than 23 million children ages two to 19 being obese or overweight. Read More

As your new students adapt to their new classmates, teacher and classroom, keep in mind your classroom environment and the significant role it plays in the success of your class. Read More

Hands-on play encourages children to explore and learn through play. Teachers should include sensory play in their daily curriculum to establish this form of learning early on. Read More

At BYO, we have always encouraged the use of products that are made from recycled materials. Our Park Equipment selection includes many recycled products, including picnic tables, park benches and a recycling station, along with other recycled site amenities. Read More

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children should do at least one hour of physical activity per day.  Read More

Bollards are a great way to restrict car access on park grounds. Adequate spacing ensures that cars cannot pass through, while allowing bikers and people walking to pass easily Read More

Visiting local parks is a great summer activity for family and friends. There are so many things to do; many parks offer commercial grills so their guests can cook-out Read More

Keeping your dog in shape and giving him or her an opportunity to play with other friendly doggy friends is just as important as taking your kids to the park to play with friends and get proper exercise. Read More

Keeping our Earth clean is obviously very important, so what can you do to help keep the Earth clean? As an individual, you may not feel like you can do any damage or help in any significant way, but you can! Let's take a look at some statistics. Read More

ATTENTION ALL PARK AND RECREATIONS! Today is the day you learn just how important picnic tables, bleachers and benches are to your park, school, daycare, place of business, church, playground and sports field. Read More

David Chaney and his team of researchers at the North Carolina State University- College of Textiles created artificial grass, or artificial turf, in 1960 for baseball fields Read More

Surfacing your playground area is one of the most important parts of a playground. Why? Because when kids fall they can get scrapes, cuts, bruises and, in serious cases, broken bones, but with the right surface you can help reduce the amount of damage done to a child who falls from a play structure or while running Read More

The majority of injuries that occur in a play area are the result of children falling to the ground from structures, so it's important to have a good surface that will absorb the majority of shock from a fall. Read More

Laying the right surface in your playground area can be a lot harder than you think. You can't just put down a couple bags of sand or mulch and say your playground is safe. Read More

BYO Recreation and their installation company, National Playground Construction (NPC), worked together to professionally install two Create Play structures for a new elementary school in St. Augustine throughout the end of May. Read More

Fitness has been a universal activity since cavemen roamed the earth. People are compelled to stay fit or get fit for many different reasons, some being the following: lower risk of heart attack or other life-threatening health issues; increase ability to protect one's self against predators; perform better in labor-intensive jobs or careers Read More

Playground Structure Safety is one of the most important components of safety in a play space, so it's important to know what you should be inspecting in order to keep children safe at play. Read More

In 1990 the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed.This act is designed to give civil rights protection to individuals with disabilities. Read More

Keeping children safe is the number one priority for BYO Recreation, so for the month of May we are going to continue to educate you about how you can keep your kids safe while at play. Read More

Keeping children safe is the number one priority for BYO Recreation, so for Playground Safety Week we want to provide you with a checklist of things to examine on your playground surface, so you can ensure your children are safe while playing. Read More

Who doesn't want to stretch their dollar further? If you have been trusted by your community or board to investigate the installation of a new playground or park space, you have been handed a challenging task. Read More

The NRPA and CPSI Curriculum state that 1-in-3 playground injuries are allegedly a result of a lack of playground maintenance or improper playground maintenance. Read More