Play Mart, Inc. Receives 2010 Evergreen Award by GSA

GSA Presents Evergreen Award to Play Mart

GSA honors Innovative Environmentally Friendly Businesses for commitment to the environment.

Play Mart Receives 2010 GSA Evergreen Award

Somerset, KY (March 17, 2011) – Play Mart, Inc was one of four businesses recently presented with the Evergreen Award by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). The Evergreen Award Program was developed in 1998, by GSA’s Integrated Workplace Acquisition Center (IWACenter), to annually recognize the efforts of partners who do business in an environmentally friendly way.

A total of 25 businesses were considered for the 2010 Evergreen Award. The Award was presented to one business in each of the following categories: Furniture, Furnishings and Floor Coverings, Technologies and Electronics, and Sports and Recreation. “These companies have done an outstanding job of making environmentally friendly options available to our federal customers and are committed to helping us reduce waste and save taxpayer dollars,” said Regional Administrator David H. Ehrenwerth. “We are honored to partner with companies that help us to green the government’s supply chain while creating a more sustainable environment and building a greener future.”

Play Mart Inc., a manufacturer of recycled plastic commercial playground equipment in Somerset, Ky., received the 2010 Evergreen Award in the Sports and Recreation category. A Woman-owned / Family-owned Small Business providing jobs in rural Kentucky, Play Mart manufactures 100% recycled plastic playground equipment and site amenities, diverting millions of jugs and bottles from landfills annually. Almost all of the company’s manufacturing waste and more than 75% of the company’s operation waste is recycled. The Take Back program ensures that the company’s products don’t go to landfills but are re-used and recycled. In 2010, Play Mart also eliminated its shop lighting and replaced it with an energy-efficient system of zoned and motion-detected fluorescent lighting. This change has provided an energy savings of nearly 7000 KWh per month which is equivalent to providing energy for 20 three bedroom houses annually.

The Evergreen Award itself “closes the recycling loop” in that it is made from recycled glass. The Award sets a high standard for other business partners to follow and is a wonderful example of how the federal government and businesses can work together. Play Mart is proud to be chosen by GSA as a partner that provide services and products that are environmentally sensitive and demonstrate its leadership in sustainability.

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As the federal government’s workplace solutions provider, the U.S. General Services Administration works to foster an effective, sustainable and transparent government for the American people. GSA’s expertise in government workplace solutions include:

Effective management of government assets including more than 9,600 government-owned or leased buildings and 215,000 vehicles in the federal fleet, and preservation of historic federal properties;

Leveraging the government’s buying power through responsible acquisition of products and services making up approximately 14 percent of the government’s total procurement dollars;

Providing innovative technology solutions to enhance government efficiency and increase citizen engagement; and,

Promoting responsible use of federal resources through development of governmentwide policies ranging from federal travel to property and management practices.

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As the leading manufacturer of Recycled Plastic Play Systems, Play Mart celebrates 30 years of designing and manufacturing creative, age group specific play products (from 6 months to 12 years), fitness equipment, swings, site amenities, and ADA accessible components that meet and exceed current safety standards. All structural equipment is made from 100% recycled post-consumer HDPE. Recycled Structural Plastic™ (RSP™) is low-maintenance with an outstanding warranty. Play Mart is a Woman-Owned / Family-Owned Small Business providing jobs in rural Kentucky, while manufacturing a world-class product. Play Mart’s products are sold nationally through a network of distributors as well as internationally. GSA Contract GS-07F-0206L. Play Mart is Recovering Yesterday’s Plastics for Today’s Play™.

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GSA’s Official Press Release: Webpage or PDF.

For more information, contact:
Tabitha Sani, Director of Marketing for Play Mart, Inc.
[email protected]

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Testimonials

"Play Mart Inc. is truly the company you want to do business with when looking for commercial grade playground equipment.

Lesson learned: not all playground equipment is compatible with other equipment. Our HOA had a Play Mart set that was purchased in 2005 it was needing to be refurbished. Ryan Williams contacted me right away asking what he could do to help. Records hadn’t been kept so I was having difficulty finding what we had and what we could do. After sending pictures from my phone, Ryan took over giving us the original design blueprint! A detailed report on what we had and what needed to be replaced was soon in my hands.

We were elated to learn that some of our stuff was still under warranty! Options of what could be done and what must be done to ensure the safety of our children were outstanding! We were so pleased that the nightmare of searching for playground equipment was now over! The equipment is made in the USA too.

While we wait for delivery we can’t thank Ryan Williams enough for the care he took in making sure that our playground is safe! They also offer installation if you need that! Everything ships with detailed installation instructions like a picture book! Thank You Play Mart and Ryan for all of your professional help!"

Jeanette Bowen

"I'm not sure whether the kids would have caused damage to the playset at some point, but the playground survived the hurricane. Your RSP™ is amazing."

Tim H. Gateway Services Community Development District

Ft Myers, FL

“I would just like to let you know Play Mart did a wonderful job on the packing/shipping and installation instructions. We have installed almost every manufacturer in the market and your company is the most installation friendly we have done in years.”

Playground Installation Crew

Kansas

“The contractor who assembled the set told me it was his first experience with recycled material in play sets and he was very impressed. He also told me it was very well packaged and user friendly for assembly.

It looks first class and blends in well with the wooded area surrounding our church. We like the fact we can accommodate so many kids with a set this size.”

Bruce P.

Topeka, KS

“This is cooler than big kids stuff!”

5 Year Old Child

Topeka, KS

“Congratulations on your extensive and impressive exhibit of your playground products. I was most impressed. If I were a child, I would spend a lot of time in the music section of your marvelous array of enticing things to do. But on the other hand, I could easily be enticed to the many other play opportunities for play and learning.

It is blatantly obvious that you have put a lot of careful thought into developing your engaging products for children. Congratulations and thank you for the tour of your exhibit at the trade show.”

Matthew Evans, FASLA Senior Landscape Architect & Horticulturist

US Capitol, Washington, DC

“It gives me great pleasure to be able to write a letter on behalf of Play Mart, Inc. On two different occasions in recent years, Play Mart constructed playground equipment on our school property. Play Mart representatives went out of their way to meet with the school playground committee so that we fully understand our options and the cost. We have been delighted with the equipment that Play Mart representatives recommended for our students. It is age appropriate and safe. We have had to make two minor repairs, which were quickly taken care of by the company.
In the process building the playground, we were very interested in using recycled materials. Availability of this via Play Mart was a big reason why we choose this company. Play Mart worked with us in obtaining exactly what we wanted. We were very pleased with the construction timeline and the value for the price. When we wanted to add more equipment, Play Mart was most helpful and made the changes cost effective for us. Our students spend many happy hours enjoying the playground.

We have been very happy with the entire project. It is with great satisfaction I write this letter on behalf of the company and their employees.”

Sister Laverne K., School Principal

Newark, DE

“We continue to be so pleased with our playscape! As soon as we open the door in preparation for outside play, the children head straight for the playscape. The teachers so enjoy watching the students play some of their favorite games which include: Pirate Ship (they all crowd on top of the playscape sailing off for adventure of the high seas), Shark! (similar to pirate ship but they all stand on top screaming “shark”), and Ice cream shop (sellers stand under the playscape and deliver ice cream cones to customers on the other side of the ‘counter’).
We thank you again for working so closely with us as we designed this safe and sturdy play area to fit the needs of our Nursery School. It has been one year and it still looks great, blending beautifully into our historic town green. Both our school and our community look forward to many, many more years of fun!”

Laurie H., Daycare Director

Washington, CT

“Our entire church is excited with the equipment and especially glad we saved 32,226 milk jugs from a landfill. We love the look of wood without the problems of termites and splintering.”

Joyce W.

Jacksonville, AR

“I wanted to drop you a quick note to commend you on your subcontractor’s performance…The combination of your quality equipment and the installation by Hammer Down has provided the staff, children and Marine Corp with an excellent play facility. The installation and application of the equipment has turned out superbly. Hammer Down, Paul and his entire crew were pleasant to work with, knowledgeable of the equipment and codes and had an uncommon willingness to work well with us and other contractors. I commend them for an excellent install and terrific attitude.

As for the poured in place rubber; again a superb product paired with a great subcontractor. Clean Play, Allen and his crew provided a level of work that would be hard to surpass. The installation went smoothly and quickly. I appreciate their attention to detail and cleanliness. Though we may have stayed late, I never have an issue doing that for a contractor that works as hard and diligently as they did each and every day. There performance was outstanding and one I would look forward to seeing again.

I appreciate all of your help and you providing us with such high quality subcontractors. Thank you.”

Mike R., Superintendent

Sauer, Inc.