Here's something most people don't know: Burke started as a weather-stripping company established in 1920 that quickly expanded to include the design and production of designer radiator furniture. While John Edward Burke was making radiator covers on the family farm here in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, a friend asked him to build a slide for their kids, and it immediately became the talk of the neighborhood (and community).

That slide changed everything. By 1925, J.E. had officially entered the playground business, and we've never looked back.

From Backyard Dreams to Household Names (1935)

Ten years in, we weren't content just making playground equipment for parks. In 1935, we invented the Swing King — the first line of residential play equipment that brought commercial-quality fun straight to America's backyards.

Ethlyn Burke wrote a jingle: "Plenty of play the Swing King way." It became such a household name that generations of families still tell stories about their Swing King memories. That's when we learned that play isn't just what kids do at the park. It's what moves families, neighborhoods and entire communities.

The Game That Changed the Game (1972)

Fast-forward to 1972. Burke invented Funnel Ball™, a game so brilliantly simple that other manufacturers immediately started making their own versions. While everyone else was copying our last idea, we were already working on the next one. That instinct to keep pushing forward runs deep in the Burke DNA.

When Modular Became Magical (1989)

The late ‘80s brought the Burke Series 2000, our breakthrough modular play system that allowed communities to create custom playground experiences tailored to their exact needs. No more one-size-fits-all. Greg Burke, representing the third generation of family leadership, ensured these systems lived up to his grandfather's "Burke Better Built" promise.

Right-Sized Design Revolution (1994)

Genesis arrived in 1994 as the industry's first foray into right-sized design — play systems created specifically for ages 2-5. Not scaled-down big-kid equipment. Not "toddler-safe" versions of existing designs. It was the beginning of purpose-built play for developing minds and bodies.

The industry took notice. We'd changed the conversation from "how do we make playgrounds" to "how do kids actually develop through play."

The Monster That Started a Movement (2000)

The year 2000 brought the Monster Slide, the industry's first triple chute slide. Three kids could race down simultaneously, turning what used to be a solo experience into a social one. Looking back, the Monster Slide was really the beginning of our journey toward understanding that the best play experiences are shared experiences.

Where Sweat Meets Fun (2007)

The Intensity^® fitness-based play system arrived in 2007 with a simple goal: deliver serious fitness benefits wrapped in seriously fun play experiences. Kids happily build strength, endurance and coordination when they're too busy having fun to notice they're working out.

The Revolution That Included Everyone (2010s-Today)

Over the last decade, we've discovered something game-changing: When you design playgrounds for kids of ALL abilities, you don't just create better playgrounds for kids with disabilities. You develop better playgrounds, period.

The 360 Loop^® and other recent Burke products aren't accommodations — they're innovations. When kids of all abilities can play together on the same equipment, share the same adventures and create shared memories, playground design becomes playground magic.

Still Innovating After All These Years

Today at 105, we're still on that same farm in Fond du Lac. Still asking "what if." Still convinced that play can change the world, one playground at a time.

We're exploring sensory-rich experiences, nature-inspired designs and equipment that supports mental health and social connection. We use research and data to guide us, but some of our best ideas still come from watching kids play and thinking about what's possible.

From radiator covers to inclusive playgrounds. From a friend's request for a slide to playgrounds that move entire communities. For 105 years, we've been reimagining what play can be.

Because we're more than a century old and we're just getting started.

Here's to making it better each time and making Play That Moves You^®.