B is for Barrs Rec, Berliner, Border Timbers, and Burke. Oh my!

B is a popular letter in the Barrs Rec product line up! Our primary partners in play are Berliner and Burke, and Border timbers serve a crucial but underrated role in our playspaces.

Barrs Recreation is your local and family-owned playground business committed to bring exceptional playspaces and customer service to the communities that you care about. With over 25 years of experience, our team has the knowledge, connections, and visions to make your dream playspace a reality. Through collaboration and passion, our mission is to create amazing spaces accessible to all, inspiring and sparking imagination, fostering connection, and strengthening communities through play.

Barrs has represented Berliner since 2020 we love their approach to play that focuses on creative problem solving, custom design and of course the best rope structures found worldwide! One of our signature playgrounds, Pleasant Park in Apex is a towering Berliner Structure with a rope complex going up and a slide 35 ft long coming down! We love adding Berliner pieces into other designs as well, which can be found at Chapel Hills’ Community Park and Garner Recreation Center. While Berliner is a German-based company, it’s United States headquarters are local to the Carolinas in Greenville, South Carolina! The Greenville office produces a limited number of quick ship items that are ready in 6 weeks or less. If you are interested in touring or attending a lunch and learn at this facility, please email [email protected], and we will work to set up a tour date.

Border timbers might be a phrase that you are unfamiliar with, but they serve a crucial role in keeping your playground safe by containing safety surfacing. Border timbers are primarily used with loose fill surfacing such as cypress chips, engineered wood fiber, and rubber mulch. Alternatives to border timbers include concrete curbing or rubber borders, both of which have their own unique applications where straight lines are not an option. Wood borders are occasionally used, however are not recommended as they tend to rot and break down quicker.

Burke is our long-time partner in play. Based out of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, all of Burke playgrounds are Build America Buy America certified. Having an American manufacturing center keeps our lead times competitive at approximately 6-8 weeks from the time of order. Burke is dedicated to industry-leading innovation and continues to bring new products to the market each year while also dedicating a team to existing product refinement. Burke maintains a unique one-page warranty that is included in full in each project proposal.

Whether it is Burke or Berliner, Border timbers or concrete curbing, Barrs Rec knows how to design a beautiful playspace. Reach out today to start your journey!