About us
Playground Ideas is a non-profit organization that supports anyone, anywhere to build a stimulating space for play using only local materials, tools, and skills.
Our Model
Do-it-yourself
Playground DIY projects are the core of our work. We were founded with a goal to provide free designs, how-to handbooks, and online support to empower communities around the world to build beautiful spaces for their children to play using only resources they can easily find locally.
Get started >Custom design & on-site support
For larger projects, the Playground Ideas team can be contracted for custom design and on-site support. We’ve provided design schemes, team training, and build facilitation for projects all over the world. If you have a budget over $5,000 and are building 1-1000 playgrounds let’s build something amazing together.
Contact us >Global Play Alliance
Expanding global access to play requires a coalition of play advocates. The Global Play Alliance is focused on creating play opportunities in communities where these resources do not exist or are in short supply. An international network of play champions on every continent, made up of playground builders, designers, parents and playwork trainers.
Search the globe >Our Team
Marcus Veerman
Founder & CEO
Scott Thompson
Sales & Incursions
Claudia Yofa
Technical Design
Camerhon Diaz
Operations
Pete Pedrano
Communications
Our Board
Laurette Hargreaves
Board Member
Lauren Schotting
Board Member
Ben Trottier
Board Member
Euan Wilmshurst
Board Member
TEDx Melbourne 2015
Marcus Veerman, CEO & Founder of Playground Ideas shares revolutionary ideas to address global poverty through the power of play.
Our Story
From Marcus Veerman, CEO
In 2007, I was living in Thailand when a local NGO asked if I would help them build a playground. Throwing together a design and a crew of volunteers, we set to work, and before we had finished that first playground, the headmaster of a neighbouring school asked if we could help them do the same. And so it began. Requests began pouring in, and over the next two years a rag-tag gang of volunteers, artists, builders and makers built 40 playgrounds along the Thai-Burma border. I started posting photos of our work online, which led to my inbox being flooded with emails asking for playground building assistance from other parts of Thailand, and then from around the world. That’s when everything changed. Read the full story on Medium.com.
Our funding
A small group of private philanthropists cover our administrative expenses so that your money can go directly to the Playground Ideas cause. This means when you donate to us, 100% of the donation goes towards expanding global access to play. Our work is funded by generous individual donors as well as corporate playground sponsors, who leverage their work in the play industry to make an impact globally.
In-kind support
We are extremely grateful to the following companies and individuals who generously provide their services to help us reach our goals:
Itomic
The Web / App Specialists of Melbourne & Perth
Itomic have generously provided Playground Ideas with awesome free web hosting, support and consultancy. We highly recommend them for all your web hosting, web / app design and development needs.
for playground companies
for philanthropic grants