When they sit down to go over budgets, city and school leaders often find themselves having to make cuts. An unanticipated shortfall means they will not be able to accomplish certain projects.

Because they have to prioritize the purchase of books and supplies, or fixing potholes in the roads, plans to expand parks and recreation opportunities often fall victim to the budget ax.  That's bad news for today's kids.  Many will grow up in communities where they are not encouraged to play, an activity that is crucial to their emotional, physical and social development.

Realizing what's at stake, parents across the country are lobbying their city councilors, putting on fundraisers, and even building playground sets themselves. Karl Jessen, a dad from New Jersey with two young boys, has done all that and more. He recently started up a company called Detailed Play Systems Pro that offers affordable playsets suitable for daycare centers, churches, schools and even neighborhood parks.

"I started up this company because I realized there was a need to fill," says Jessen. "When I was growing up, kids had plenty of places to play. Nowadays, parks are just green spaces with little if any playground equipment. Once I realized price was the problem, I decided to do something about it."

Detailed Play Systems Pro's sets have all the bells and whistles of the more expensive sets, but at a fraction of the cost. The Kid Center series of playgrounds, specially designed for pre-school aged kids, are excellent additions to any play site.  The Kid Center PPS-1 Playground, which sells for less than $2,000, is an 11 foot by 11 foot set made of rotationally molded top quality colorful plastic components. Among its features, a fish climber, straight slide, tic-tac-toe panel, clock panel, window and see thru panel.

The step-up model, The Kid Center PPS-2 Playground, has all the features of the PPS-1 but is a bit larger - 16 feet by 11 feet.  It also includes two additional play decks, a car panel complete with gauges kids can use to pretend they're driving, a flower panel that helps to stimulate kids imaginations, and a smokestack roof . The Kid Center PPS-3 Playground is bigger yet, 17 feet by 19 feet, and features the step-up option of an additional right curve slide.  

All of the structures meet or exceed Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards.

Interested in learning more?  To view a complete catalog of playsets and accessories available from Detailed Play Systems Pro, log on to www.detailedplaypro.com.

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