Why Choose Us?
Because with Play By Design, you’re not picking out of a catalog, you’re building something that belongs to your community.
We start by listening. Every custom playground is shaped by community voices, reflecting local history, architecture, children’s imaginations, and even opportunities for public art and fundraising. Our team knows how to translate those ideas into thoughtful, inclusive designs that serve all ages and abilities while meeting real-world budgets and site constraints.
From there, we pair creativity with experience. We use innovative, durable building materials and high-value play components that prioritize safety, accessibility, play value, and long-term cost effectiveness. With decades of hands-on experience, especially in rebuilding and reimagining older playgrounds, we design with foresight, knowing what lasts, what performs, and what truly matters over time.
The result is more than a playground. It’s a one-of-a-kind space that tells your community’s story, invites everyone to play, and stands the test of time.
OUR SERVICES
Our unmatched flexibility and comprehensive services ensure every playground project is as unique as the community it serves.
EXPERIENCE
For more than three decades, we've led the evolution of community-built playgrounds, raising the standard for accessibility, architectural creativity, and generational durability.
A RECORD OF ACCOMPLISHMENT
From local parks to internationally recognized playgrounds, our proven track record is built on decades of successful projects, trusted partnerships, and playgrounds that continue to serve communities for generations.
OUR BUILD TEAM
Expert Builders. Exceptional Leaders.
Whether guiding hundreds of volunteers or completing a turnkey installation, our CPSI-certified, experienced construction team delivers every project with precision and care.
OUR Development Team
The experienced co-founders of Play By Design, Lee and Dave, have been working together since the early 90's, opening PBD together in 2010. They have personally designed, project-managed, and supervised volunteer construction of over 800 unique and wonderful play structures at schools and parks across the USA and Overseas. Since opening, PBD has rebuilt 8 to 12 wooden playgrounds each year, many of which they helped build originally. Dedicated to the "magic" of the original iconic community-built playgrounds, Lee and Dave seamlessly integrate the innovation and efficiency of today's world into the designs and organizational efforts of each community they work with.
All of our Senior Designers and Project Managers are CPSI-certified, with 10+ years of experience in their craft, and are knowledgeable about ASTM and ADA standards as they apply to playgrounds.
DARA LEE ARCHIN
CO-FOUNDER
DAVE IANELLO
CO-FOUNDER
LISA DESHANO
SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER
DENNIS WILLE
ADA SPECIALIST
MARY ARCHIN
MARKETING / DEVELOPMENT
KRISTI FRANKLIN
OPERATIONS MANAGER
DAVE TUMEO
SENIOR CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANT
LAURA DOLCH
ACCOUNTING
Our Journey
Play By Design (PBD) was founded in 2010 by co-founders Lee Archin and Dave Ianello, but their journey with custom, community-built playgrounds began in the late 1980s. As Imagineers with Leathers & Associates ( L&A), under the pioneering leadership of Bob Leathers, Lee and Dave moved up the ranks to senior team members, helping to perfect the art of the community-built playground; an approach inspired by the timeless spirit of Amish barn raising. Community after community, they were energized by the grit, organization, and dedication of local committees, and by the passion of volunteers who came together to build something meaningful for their children.
When Bob Leathers retired, Lee, Dave, and several L&A associates felt a strong responsibility to carry that momentum forward. Play By Design was born from a desire to honor that legacy while expanding the possibilities of what playgrounds could be. Our mission became clear: to push the horizons of playground design through architectural excellence, flexible build methods, diverse procurement options, and a deep commitment to all-abilities and multi-generational play.
Today, our team of experienced playground designers and construction professionals brings this vision to life in communities across the country. We are especially honored to return to many of the same communities where we helped build the original playgrounds, now reimagining and rebuilding them for the next generation. Guided by a steadfast commitment to safety, affordability, inclusivity, and inspired design, Play By Design creates enduring play spaces that strengthen communities and invite everyone to play.
TESTIMONIALS
Client Success Stories: Hear What Our Clients Say
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CHRISTOPHER RAMIREZ
Arlington, Virginia
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MARCUS THOMPSON
Naperville, Illinois
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AISHA PATEL
Plano, Texas