Quality takes time. Certification proves it.
Quality doesn’t happen by chance. It comes from process—and we’ve been perfecting ours for more than 40 years.
Our Commitment to Quality & Sustainability
Superior raw materials, careful screening, and hands-on attention. Every load is visually inspected, tested, and handled with care to ensure consistency, safety, and reliable performance, season after season.
IPEMA-Certified Playground Surfacing (PlayCushion®)
Independently tested. Proven safe. One of only six certified producers in North Carolina.
Parker Bark is an IPEMA member, and PlayCushion® is an officially IPEMA-certified product.
To maintain certification, PlayCushion® undergoes annual independent testing by TÜV SÜD America, the laboratory contracted by IPEMA.
To verify product certification, please visit http://www.ipema.org.
Our PlayCushion® meets or exceeds the following ASTM standards:
- ASTM F1292 — Impact attenuation (head injury criteria)
- ASTM F2075 — Engineered wood fiber specification (purity, metal content, and size)
- ASTM F3351 — Laboratory impact testing at specified fall heights
The International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA) provides a third-party certification to ensure product compliance to specific ASTM and/or CSA standards. Each product promoted here, if certified by IPEMA, includes the name and model number for you to search the IPEMA website for verification. To verify product certification, visit www.ipema.org and conduct a search.
ADA Compliance
PlayCushion® is tested for wheelchair accessibility (ASTM F1951) and meets all ADA accessibility requirements when properly installed.
Material Options
Parker Bark produces two certified PlayCushion® options—both clean, eco-friendly, and screened for consistent performance:
Playground Safety Benefits
To keep things smooth and safe, we ask that each job site be prepared before our truck arrives. If your site has special conditions (tight turns, soft ground, overhead wires, etc.), let us know when ordering so we can plan ahead.
US Composting Council (USCC) Certified Compost
Tested. Verified. Consistently dependable.
Parker Bark’s screened compost is certified through the U.S. Composting Council’s Seal of Testing Assurance (STA) Program. Our compost delivers dependable performance for landscapers, municipalities, and horticultural professionals who rely on stable, high-quality organic material.
This certification verifies that our compost is:
- Tested regularly (every three months) by independent laboratories
- Measured for quality, maturity, and consistency
- Suitable for turf, landscape, and garden applications
- Free from food waste, biosolids, and fecal contaminants
Memberships & Industry Affiliations
We participate in key organizations that support quality, safety, innovation, and environmental stewardship. These affiliations reflect our commitment to best practices and continuous improvement.
Affiliations include:
- Mulch & Soil Council
- North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Association (NCNLA)
- U.S. Composting Council (USCC) — STA Program
- IPEMA (International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association)
What Certification Means for Our Customers
For landscapers, nurseries, playground installers, contractors, and municipalities, certification isn’t just a label. It’s assurance and transparency.
- You receive consistent material every time
- Products perform as expected in the field
- Safety standards are independently verified
- Compliance documentation is available for your project
- You’re buying from a manufacturer with proven standards—not shortcuts
Ready for a Quote? Let’s Talk.
We prefer a conversation—new customers are encouraged to start by calling us directly. You may also complete our Request a Quote form and we’ll call you once it’s received.