Playgrounds have come a long way since my early childhood back in the 1970s. In those days, a playground meant slides, monkey bars, seesaws, ladders to climb, and lots of activities that were not all that inclusive.

In recent years, that has changed. Schools and communities now build playgrounds, playscapes, and play areas that are meant to be inclusive so more kids can enjoy them and more parents can have a safe space for their children.

Jill Moore is an inclusive play specialist with Landscape Structures, a playground manufacturer based in Delano, Minn. She has been a wheelchair user her whole life and uses her own experiences to inform her playground designs.

“When we build for inclusion, we’re saying who we value,” Moore told School Constructions News. “When I see an inclusive playground, I feel welcome there. Someone has thought of me and decided that I matter and have something to add.”

She noted that inclusion can be very different for differently-abled kids and that federal guidelines are minimal.

“The ADA guidelines for children’s play spaces were written in 2000, and in 2010, those guidelines became law, but they are the bare minimum. We’ve never really defined inclusion with a check box, because as soon as you give it a check box people adhere to the minimum. For example, inclusive playground design for me could look very different from inclusive design for a child with autism,” she shared.

It’s a challenging field because, while there are accepted best practices, there are no overriding guidelines, and it’s easy to build a playground that inadvertently leaves out certain kids.

Now, one of the leaders in the space, Fit and Fun Playscapes, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Inclusive playgrounds have been growing in popularity.

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Inclusive playgrounds are a growing market

Creating inclusive outdoor playspaces has been a growing market.

“The Inclusive Playground Equipment Market has experienced significant growth as communities and organizations strive to create spaces that are accessible to children with diverse abilities. Inclusive playgrounds are designed to provide an environment where children of all abilities can play together, promoting social integration, learning, and physical activity,” according to data from Verified Market Reports.

The market for these services has grown as due to increased awareness about the importance of inclusivity in public spaces.

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“According to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 1 in 4 adults in the United States live with a disability, underlining the need for accessible public environments, including playgrounds. As a result, inclusive playground equipment is becoming a standard requirement for new playground designs and refurbishments in both urban and suburban areas,” the report showed.

That has led to a growing market.

“Market research suggests that the global inclusive playground equipment market size was valued at $2.56 billion in 2023 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 7.6% from 2024 to 2030,” it added.

Fit and Fun Playscapes has been an inclusive playground leader

A woman-owned business, Fit and Fun has helped “over a million people across more than 8,000 schools, community parks, and recreation centers to move, interact and experience health and wellness in fun, engaging ways,” according to its website.

Fit and Fun Playscapes helps schools, clinics, and communities create an inclusive culture that promotes the many benefits of daily movement.

“We use evidence-based movement concepts to create inclusive indoor, outdoor, and portable solutions that engage people of all ages and abilities,” the company added.

Its products and solutions include:

  • Sensory paths,
  • Recess and playground stencils
  • Fitness and activity trails,
  • Peace paths
  • Pickleball and basketball courts,
  • Custom stencils, decals, and portable mats

Fit and Fun Playscapes Chapter 11 bankruptcy details

  • On December 8, 2025, Fit & Fun Playscapes, LLC filed a voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition in the Southern District of New York.
  • The case was assigned Bankruptcy Petition # 25-36245.
  • The company’s listed headquarters for the filing is 220 Overocker Road, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603.
    Source: Bankruptcy Observer
  • Fit & Fun describes itself on its website as a women-owned business that provides “painted play space and playground markings, sensory pathways, peace paths, pickleball and basketball courts, and custom stencil, decal and portable mats.”
  • According to its profile just before the filing, Fit & Fun had served “over a million people across more than 8,000 schools, community parks, and recreation centers.”
  • The company supplies stencils, sensory-path decals, and other movement-based products that aim to make play and physical activity accessible and inclusive.
    Source: fitandfunplayscapes.com
  • The Chapter 11 filing means the company is seeking to restructure its debts rather than immediately liquidate, giving it a chance (at least initially) to reorganize and continue at least part of its operations.
    Source: PacerMonitor

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