Jake Guckenberger // Play-Pro Recreation

07/31/2026

School will be back in session before we know it. Dallas Center Elementary playground is ready to welcome the kids on day one. Few feelings beat that first recess on a new playground.

07/29/2026

07/27/2026

USA Shade isn’t just rectangle sails. Cantilevers over bleachers. Hip structures over splash pads. Custom configurations wherever the sun’s coming from. If you can sketch it, we can probably shade it.

07/24/2026

Hot week ahead, Iowa. Drink water. Check shade at your playground. And if your equipment’s getting hot enough to burn — that’s a conversation for next season.

07/22/2026

Progress at Bellevue Elementary in Bellevue. Posts are set, footings are cured, and you can finally start to see the shape of what's coming. This is one of my favorite phases — the skeleton's up, imagination fills in the rest. Swipe through — a few days from now this'll look completely different. Tag a who'd want to see this coming together."

07/20/2026

3 things that determine the right playground size for your site:

1. Peak use — 100 kids at recess looks very different than a neighborhood park
2. Age range — toddler-only vs. mixed ages changes layout entirely
3. Footprint constraints — drainage, sun, sightlines

If you’re staring at a blank site and not sure where to start, we’ll walk it with you.

07/17/2026

Little Tikes Commercial keeps raising the bar on inclusive play. Proud Partners with Unlimited Play. Wheelchair-accessible spinners. Ramps to the main deck. Ground-level sensory panels. Inclusive doesn’t mean separate — it means every kid plays together. If your project’s prioritizing this, let’s talk.

07/15/2026

Wrapped up Prairie Hill Elementary in Cedar Rapids last week. New playground going into the school year, and honestly one of my favorite builds this summer — creative layout, colors that match the school's brand, and enough variety that every age group has something. Can't wait to hear about the first day of school reactions.

07/10/2026

For schools, parks, anyone thinking about a fall install — July is the time. Equipment lead times are running 8–12 weeks. If you want kids on to enjoy it before the snow flies, the calendar’s not lying. Happy to talk anytime!

07/08/2026

Throwback Wednesday — drove past Main Street Park in Maquoketa this morning on the way to a site visit. We built it 2 summers back. Still looks like the day we walked away. That’s the test. If your kids have a favorite playground around here, drop the location in the comments.