IPEMA and Voice of Play:
2023 Year-in-Review
The International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to representing and promoting a market for manufacturers of playground equipment and surfacing. IPEMA also provides a product certification program for public play equipment and surfacing materials.
The value of being an IPEMA member cannot be understated, with certification discounts, networking opportunities, and many resources available to our members. IPEMA also offers members the opportunity to serve on various committees including Marketing & Public Relations, Equipment Certification, and more.
In 2023, IPEMA launched our first industry-focused blog, which is now live on our website. This blog focuses on industry-specific information, such as playground safety, certification, and more.

 
Voice of Play
Voice of Play is IPEMA's initiative that focuses on the quality and quantity of free play and the use of playgrounds. Through unbiased, scientifically based information and resources, the Voice of Play aims to increase awareness and education about the many benefits of children's play, including the development of physical, social, emotional, and cognitive skills.
At IPEMA and Voice of Play, our goal is to provide the most up-to-date resources on play and the play industry. In 2023, we worked with This Little Miggy to advocate for inclusive playgrounds, and educate parents, caregivers, and city members on the importance of creating play spaces that are inclusive towards kids with disabilities, different age groups, and more. Our website hosts several resources that can be used to bring inclusive playgrounds to communities.
IPEMA and Voice of Play is looking forward to another year of safer play and playground manufacturing. Visit
www.IPEMA.org and www.voiceofplay.org
Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram
Current IPEMA President: Brad Pittman

US Play Coalition
The US Play Coalition is an international network of individuals and organizations, promoting the value of play throughout life. The Coalition hosts conferences and educational trainings, encourages and conducts research and provides avenues of communication about the value of play worldwide.
Founded in 2009 at Clemson University, our leadership announced a new home for the US Play Coalition in March 2023 at the Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands.
Our largest event each year is the National Conference on the Value of Play. This professional development conference brings together leading play researchers, educators, health scientists, park and recreation professionals, landscape architects, designers, planners, business and community leaders, psychologists, physicians and parents from across
the globe.
"THE FUTURE OF PLAY" will explore play and technology, play across the lifespan, play in libraries, play in the workplace, play in the classroom, and play in relation to universal issues of access, equity, inclusion and more.
We are thrilled to have our first Play Conference in our new HQ hometown of Bloomington, Indiana - on the campus of Indiana University! The three-day event will include headliner presentations, round tables on critical issues and trends, a research symposium for academics, educational sessions for practitioners, PLAYforums and PLAYinstitutes, networking, EPIC play breaks and more.
To learn more about the conference, please visit https://usplaycoalition.org/playconference24
Visit our website and click "Get Involved" to join. Membership is free, and simply requires a declaration of shared commitment to the value of play.