Playground Professionals for Personal Partnerships

SafetyFirst Playground Maintenance’s story begins in 2008 at the heart of Minnesota’s forest product. With extensive knowledge in forest products, our founder saw an opportunity to create surfacing that would naturally withstand harsh conditions and ensure safe playgrounds for schools and parks. The first-of-its-kind surfacing would later be known as Nature’sPlus, our engineered wood fiber.

After delivering numerous truckloads of Nature’sPlus across the Midwest, we noticed how much the parks and schools cared about their playgrounds but didn’t have the time and resources to maintain them. So, we started offering playground services to further help our clients. Almost 15 years later, we are a full-service playground maintenance company, and our clients first call for all their playground needs.

At SatetyFirst Playground Maintenance, we are a family-owned, commercial playground company serving school districts, parks and municipalities, and architects and engineers. Located in Minnesota, we offer services across the Midwest, including Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Iowa, and provide playground repair parts nationwide.

Why Partner with a Playground Maintenance Company

As a playground maintenance company, we are service-focused. Since we are not a playground equipment manufacturer, our motivation isn’t backed by the desire to sell equipment. Our goal, since the beginning, is to help parks and schools provide safe playgrounds for children and students while relieving the weight of your playground maintenance. We care about your playgrounds because we are committed to our clients as your long-term, reliable partner.

Meet Marissa Bauer

Owner and President

Marissa has been involved in SafetyFirst Playground Maintenance since day one. She helped develop the business plan and get it off the ground alongside her father, Bob Clarin, the founder.

While still working her full-time pharmacist position, Marissa worked her way from part-time employee to President, and everything in between, till she officially hung up her white coat and purchased SafetyFirst Playground Maintenance in 2020.

The playground industry quickly became Marissa’s passion simply because of the people who she and her team served along the way, and still serve today. Marissa is the industry expert in playground maintenance, making SafetyFirst the Midwest’s go-to commercial playground company.

Marissa is involved in the Association of Women Contractors helping women and young people get involved in the trades. Demonstrated by her early commitment to SafetyFirst, family is an important part of Marissa’s life. Every weekend, her family, including her parents and sisters’ families, flood the same local cafe for a morning filled with coffee and laughter.

I have been using SafetyFirst surfacing material in my district’s playgrounds for several years now. We have been very impressed with the quality and impact attenuation of this product. I would highly recommend it for any organization looking for a quality, long lasting product for their playground surfacing needs.

Facilities and Safety Coordinator
Eden Prairie Schools, ISD 272

In my nearly 30 years of facility management, SafetyFirst is the finest playground service company I have worked with, Bob Clarin, president of SafetyFirst was always available and was on site daily. From the simplest repair, a missing bolt to a complete rebuild including drainage and play structure relocation, SafetyFirst completed the work well and on time.

Supervisor of Buildings & Grounds
Roseville Schools, ISD 623

I would like to express my satisfaction with the wood chips and mats that we have purchased from SafetyFirst. The chips bind together well to make a nice playground surface with the fall protection we need. Bob has always had the materials delivered on a timely basis and is very pleasant to work with. I am sure we will be doing more business Bob and SafetyFirst in the future.

Parks and Forestry Superintendent
City of Brookings, SD