Michigan

Installation of Playground and recreation equipment, installation of playground safety surfacing, playground inspections

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Midwest Recreation has been building great playgrounds and recreation areas since 2002, when Jim Dark left behind a suit and tie career to start the company as a distributor for a Michigan based playground equipment manufacturer.

Like any startup, the company faced some early challenges. When the installation contractor we hired for our first jobs couldn’t meet our customer’s schedule, Jim loaded shovels and sons in the family minivan and headed out to learn how to install playground equipment and make sure we kept our commitment to our customer. It was a cold spring day and after slogging around a school playground in ankle deep mud all morning, Jim was thinking that maybe that suit and tie wasn’t so bad after all. His second thoughts quickly vanished when he looked up to see the cafeteria windows full of excited kids with their smiling faces pressed up against the window, wondering “when can we play on it”. That’s when Jim knew he made the right decision!

In January of 2024 Jim moved into semi-retirement and former employee Matt Lawton took over ownership to continue the tradition. Just as Jim’s sons worked with him in the business, Matt’s daughter Amy and wife Julie will be working with the company as well..

1,000 installations later, we are still providing fun for little and big kids alike. We offer a diverse and innovative line of commercial playground equipment for public playgrounds as well as a complete line of playground safety surfacing options, outdoor athletic equipment, site furnishings and amenities, shades and shelters, and outdoor fitness equipment.

With more than two decades of expertise, Midwest Recreation Products is ready to assist you in realizing your vision, whether it’s straightforward projects or intricate endeavors incorporating landforms, specialized items, or fully inclusive play environments for children and caregivers alike. Our commitment is to support you in achieving your objectives.

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At Midwest Recreation Products, we create safe, imaginative, and inclusive play spaces designed for children and communities wherever they gather to play and learn. We are proud to be the designers behind the 2025 Park Design Award-winning farm-themed playground at Keeley Park in Jackson, MI.

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