About Bear Playgrounds

The Playground Professionals

The Bear Playgrounds Mission

At Bear Playgrounds, Safety is our number one priority! As parents ourselves, we understand that being confident in your child's overall well-being and happiness is of utmost importance.

Bear Playgrounds acts as a marketing/sales and installation agent serving all of Western PA, Eastern Ohio and Northern West Virginia. We are staffed with professional and highly-qualified installation crews who will work to serve your new addition as efficiently as possible.

The growth of our company is a result of our quality product, efficiency, and incredible team. We are a family here at Bear. Let our family serve yours.

The Story Behind Bear Playgrounds

Bear Playgrounds, a Division of Baker Equipment for Athletics and Recreation, Inc., is a family-owned and operated company that helps other families customize a playset to fit their family and their backyard. In addition, we provide safety surfacing options, trampolines, basketball hoops & outdoor furniture to complete your backyard oasis!

With 30+ years of experience in the business, we are equipped with top-of-the-line, quality products that your family will love for years to come! If you really want to learn about Bear Playgrounds, the best way is by meeting our staff.

Meet Our Experienced Staff

Steven Baker

President/General Manager

Steve was one of the founders of Bear Playgrounds (formerly B.E.A.R. of Pennsylvania)! He and his parents, Bob & Karen Baker, started B.E.A.R. of PA back in 1992! Steve primarily focuses on and runs the commercial playground division at Bear, selling Burke playground equipment through Snider Recreation. He has been selling residential and commercial playgrounds for over 30 years!

Crystal Baker

Sales Manager

Crystal started with Bear Playgrounds at the young age of 18. Since that time, she has grown to oversee the residential division. Crystal spends several days each year building playsets with the installation crews at customer's homes in order to stay on top of design changes and continue learning about our product's installation processes. Crystal has been involved in the playground industry for 24 years!

Justin Beecher

Installation Supervisor

Justin has spent nearly half of his life installing residential and commercial playground equipment, basketball hoops & trampolines. Justin has grown to become Vice President and coordinates the installation schedule, processes warranty requests and oversees quality control. Justin has been with Bear for about 20 years!

Scott Jones

Warehouse Manager

Scott Jones, our Warehouse Manager, plays a critical role in keeping operations running smoothly. As part of our family-run business and Crystal’s father, Scott brings a strong sense of pride and dedication to his work. He oversees inventory management and ensures all orders are accurately prepared for upcoming deliveries and shipments. Scott’s attention to detail and organizational expertise keep the warehouse efficient and well-stocked, making sure the parts and materials we need are always on hand. His reliability and commitment make him an invaluable asset to both our team and our customers.

Kelly Christie

Commercial Playground Assistant

Kelly joined the Bear family in our commercial department in 2018. Since then, she has assisted Steve in the office with sales, orders, invoices and even installations! Don't be surprised if you see her in work clothes digging a hole!

Marty Kozlowski

Commercial Project Manager

Marty oversees our commercial installations from start to finish. He manages each project day in and day out, ensuring everything runs efficiently and meets our high standards. With nine years of experience at Bear Playgrounds, Marty brings consistency, expertise, and strong leadership to every job, making him a key part of our team’s success.