Child's hand gripping a powder-coated steel rung on a climbing frame
Children playing on a large outdoor climbing structure at dusk
Welder's arc flaring off a custom steel playground frame in fabrication shop
Aerial view of a serpentine rubber surface playground in violet and black tones
Detail of cast-in-place concrete with board-form texture at a playground base
Children climbing a custom timber and steel adventure playground structure
Custom fabricated steel slide structure in an urban playground setting
Rubber pour surface in deep violet tones around a playground base
PLAYGROUND
FORGE

Steel · Rubber · Timber · Custom Fabrication

Commission Your Playground
CUSTOM BUILD · EST. 2009 · MADE IN USA ·
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Custom FabricationSteel & RubberTimber StructuresMunicipal ProjectsSchool PlaygroundsRisk-Reward DesignSeven Expert HandsCommission DirectCustom FabricationSteel & RubberTimber StructuresMunicipal ProjectsSchool PlaygroundsRisk-Reward DesignSeven Expert HandsCommission Direct
01 / Creator Spotlight
Mara Osei, concept designer, sketching playground layouts in her studio workshop

Mara Osei

Concept Designer

Play Theory & Spatial Narrative

Mara translates behavioral research into spatial sequences. She's spent 14 years watching how children actually move — not how adults assume they do. Every project begins with her field notes.

Early concept sketch detail showing curved climbing paths for the Harborview Cascade playground
Children testing the prototype climbing route at the Harborview Cascade site

Featured Project

Harborview Cascade — Portland, OR

A three-level serpentine structure built around a 90-year-old oak. 2,400 sq ft. Ages 2–12.

Completed Harborview Cascade playground aerial view showing the serpentine structure around the oak tree
02 / Creator Spotlight
Daniel Varga, structural engineer, reviewing load calculations at his drafting table in the fabrication shop

Daniel Varga

Structural Engineer

Load Analysis & Material Science

Daniel has signed off on 47 playgrounds that have absorbed 2.3 million child-hours without a single structural incident. He thinks in failure modes — and designs them out before a bolt is sourced.

Structural welding detail on the Meridian Heights cantilevered bridge connection point
Steel frame assembly for the Meridian Heights School playground structure

Featured Project

Meridian Heights School — Chicago, IL

Cantilevered steel bridge spanning 28 ft. Rated for 80 simultaneous users. Ages 5–14.

Completed Meridian Heights School playground showing the cantilevered steel bridge structure
03 / Creator Spotlight
Kezia Thornton, lead installer, overseeing rubber surface pour at the Riverside Commons playground site

Kezia Thornton

Lead Site Installer

On-Site Fabrication & Surface Systems

Kezia has poured 18,000 square feet of rubber, set 340 steel anchor plates, and personally torqued every critical connection on every PlaygroundForge build since 2017. The site is her studio.

Rubber pour surface being applied in deep violet tones at Riverside Commons
Final color-blocked rubber surface zones at Riverside Commons Austin playground

Featured Project

Riverside Commons — Austin, TX

Full-site pour: 6,200 sq ft rubber surface, custom color-blocked in four zones. Ages 18 months–16 years.

Completed Riverside Commons playground full aerial view showing all four rubber surface zones
Completed PlaygroundForge project — full site view of a custom rubber and steel playground at dusk, every surface glowing

Seven hands. One playground.

This is what happens when nobody cuts corners.

What it costs

Three packages.
Zero catalog numbers.

Every playground is fabricated to your site, your children, and your brief. These prices reflect the full scope — design, engineering, materials, and installation.

Foundation

For sites that need a catalyst, not a catalog.

$84,000

Fixed price. No surprises.

Site Size

800 – 1,400 sq ft

Age Group

Ages 2 – 8

Surface

Engineered wood fiber or rubber pour

  • Concept design session (Mara, 2 days)
  • Structural engineering sign-off
  • Powder-coated steel climbing system
  • Standard anchor installation
  • Site inspection + handoff
Most Commissioned

Landmark

The full PlaygroundForge method. Signature results.

$165,000

Most popular with school districts.

Site Size

2,200 – 3,800 sq ft

Age Group

Ages 2 – 14

Surface

Rubber pour, custom color-blocked

  • Full concept + narrative design (Mara, 5 days)
  • Structural engineering + load certification
  • Custom steel, timber, and rubber systems
  • Full rubber pour surface in up to 4 colors
  • On-site Kezia install crew (2 weeks)
  • 3-year structural warranty

Monument

For sites that will define a neighborhood for 30 years.

From $290,000

Municipal bond projects welcome.

Site Size

5,000 – 12,000 sq ft

Age Group

Ages 18 mo – 16

Surface

Full rubber pour + optional turf integration

  • Multi-phase concept + community engagement
  • Full structural + civil engineering package
  • Custom fabricated steel, concrete, timber
  • Full-site pour with accessibility compliance
  • Dedicated PM + phased install (4–8 weeks)
  • 5-year structural warranty + annual inspection

Still in budget approval? Download our full spec sheet with material data, safety certifications, and project timelines.

Ready to build?

Commission starts with a 30-minute site brief. No obligation.

Commission Your Playground

30-minute brief. We'll respond within one business day.

Download Spec Sheet

Materials, certifications, and project timelines.

What's in the spec sheet:

Material data sheets, ASTM F1292 impact attenuation results, ADA compliance documentation, and typical project timelines from brief to handoff.