KENNESAW, GEORGIA (June 26, 2001) — The East Coast's leading manufacturer of wooden playground equipment, PlayNation Play Systems, Inc., announced today that it will discontinue the use of arsenic-treated lumber, becoming the first national playground manufacturer to exclusively use arsenic-free preserved wood in the construction of treated wood playgrounds. PlayNation sells wooden playground equipment nationally through nurseries, lumberyards, home centers and other specialty retail outlets.

PlayNation will convert all treated wood manufacturing operations to the use of Preserve Plus® , an arsenic-free preserved wood. Currently, PlayNation uses over 5% of all ACQ-treated lumber in the United States.

"Our commitment to manufacture and market wooden playground equipment constructed with Preserve Plus is based on current trends in the playground industry, as well as consumer and marketplace demand," explains Dave Seitz, Vice President, PlayNation Play Systems, Inc. "By using arsenic-free preserved wood that has superior performance characteristics, PlayNation is achieving a two-fold objective — offer a product consumers are asking for, and construct playgrounds with a commitment to safety and durability."

PlayNation officials expect a smooth transition for both manufacturing operations and retailers alike, as arsenic-free treated wood has dominated the company's product assortment for nearly three years. PlayNation will deal exclusively with arsenic-free preserved wood by July 2001.

"By setting an arsenic-free standard for the playground industry, PlayNation is confident that other manufacturers will follow suit, making arsenic-free preserved wood playground equipment more readily available nationwide," concludes Mr. Seitz.

PlayNation Play Systems, Inc. (Kennesaw, Georgia) is the East Coast's leading manufacturer and marketer of backyard wooden playground equipment. With over 100 dealers nationwide, PlayNation offers an array of playground designs for children of all ages and to meet the needs of virtually any backyard situation.