Landscape Structures Playground Pays Homage to Atlanta

DELANO, Minn., Oct. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Landscape Structures Inc., the leading commercial play equipment manufacturer in the world, will unveil an innovative playable piece of art on Nov. 1. The playground was designed to be a central part of the recently rejuvenated Woodruff Park area in Atlanta, Ga. The playground will be revealed during the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Congress and Exposition, which is being held Oct. 30 - Nov. 3, at Atlanta's Georgia World Congress Center.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111026/CG93216)

"Landscape Structures is dedicated to creating innovative play areas," said Landscape Structures President Pat Faust. "The playground is a work of art, but it gives the children of Atlanta infinite ways to interact with the sculpture."

The original design was conceived by Jeff Santos of Coquitlam, British Columbia. Santos was the winner of the Playable 10 Contest, held in partnership by Landscape Structures, Georgia Institute of Technology, Central Atlanta Progress (CAP), Atlanta's Taskforce on Play (ATOP) and Bank of America. The playground's design pays tribute to Atlanta with a shape that mimics the letters "ATL." Built into the piece are various playable elements, including climbing walls, monkey bars and two different sizes of slides.

"I wanted the playground to have a unique shape, but also be inviting to children." Santos said. "The design really plays to kids' imagination and curiosity."

The new playground is in good company with the other improvements that have been made in the park over the last few years. CAP and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District (ADID), since taking on operations of the park, have set their sights on making Woodruff Park the Downtown destination for healthy activity. Best known of these improvements is the Woodruff Park Recreation and Reading Room and the recently installed music system. But other new amenities like exercise and recreation equipment and Walk For Lunch programming have increased the active offerings of this urban oasis.

"Woodruff Park aims to be an amenity for visitors, employees, children and families and no park is complete without a dedicated place to play," said A.J. Robinson, president of CAP and ADID. "Through our partnership with Landscape Structures, Bank of America and ATOP, we're providing Atlanta's Downtown community with a combination of art and recreation."

The playground is slated to be installed in Woodruff Park in spring 2012. The structure is designed in the spirit of Landscape Structures that an inclusive playground is an important part of a healthy, thriving community.

For more information about Landscape Structures, please visit www.playlsi.com.

ABOUT LANDSCAPE STRUCTURES INC:

Since 1971, Landscape Structures Inc. has been the leading commercial play equipment manufacturer in the world. The employee-owned company is committed to making the world a better place with active children thriving in leading communities year after year, generation after generation. It encourages outdoor play that develops healthy kids and a sustainable world by creating innovative products that are environmentally responsible. Landscape Structures' mission from day one has been to enhance children's lives by fostering and creating inspiring play experiences while honoring the environment. Visit playlsi.com to learn more.

ABOUT CENTRAL ATLANTA PROGRESS/ATLANTA DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT: Central Atlanta Progress, Inc., is a Downtown business association with approximately 200 members. Its mission is to build a vibrant community with strong leadership and sustainable infrastructure that is safe, livable, diverse, economically viable, accessible, clean, hospitable and entertaining. The Atlanta Downtown Improvement District is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, charitable corporation created by CAP to make Downtown safer, cleaner and more hospitable.

ATLANTA TASKFORCE ON PLAY (ATOP): Atlanta Taskforce on Play (ATOP) was founded in 2007 to apply to KaBOOM!'s Playful City USA competition on behalf of the City of Atlanta. Working closely with the City's Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, ATOP was successful and Atlanta became one of the 31 Founding Playful Cities and went on to win first prize in the PCUSA video grant competition. Check out ATOP's winning video. ATOP is a fiscal partner of the local 501(c)(3) nonprofit Park Pride. More can be found at playatlanta.org.

ABOUT BANK OF AMERICA: Bank of America is one of the world's largest financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small- and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 57 million consumer and small business relationships with approximately 5,900 retail banking offices and approximately 18,000 ATMs and award-winning online banking with 29 million active users. Bank of America is among the world's leading wealth management companies and is a global leader in corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 4 million small business owners through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations in more than 40 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

ABOUT THE WOODRUFF PARK MASTER PLAN: The Woodruff Park Master Plan presents a detailed vision of the future of Downtown's most distinctive green space. The authority for the Master Plan is the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Atlanta Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs (DPRCA) and Atlanta Downtown Improvement District, Inc. (ADID), as approved by the City Council and Mayor in 2007. Woodruff Park's designer, Nimrod Long and Associates, was hired by CAP/ADID to spearhead all redesign and repair projects. The Master Plan will be executed in two phases, and will be funded largely through a comprehensive fund-raising program, developed by CAP, targeting support from private sources.

SOURCE Landscape Structures