Long Island Couple Launches Backyard Obstacle Business For Kids
EAST NORTHPORT, NY — With schools, sports and extracurricular activities canceled across Long Island since March, families with children have been looking for backyard entertainment. Sales of pools, trampolines and other family-friendly recreation items have skyrocketed, and one Long Island couple took their own family hobby to the next level by launching a custom obstacle course equipment installation company.
Kristi Daly and her husband Joseph, who live in East Northport, have built obstacles for their own three children in their backyard for years, but had the idea to make their family activity a business during the coronavirus pandemic. Kristi Daly is a bookkeeper for an event company and her husband is a stock trader who was laid off during the pandemic, another factor spurring the couple to expand their family hobby into a business.
"About a month and a half ago my husband realized we could bring this enjoyment to others' backyards as well," Daly said. "I started with one ad on Facebook and the interest was massive."
The couple have installed eight obstacle course sets in six weeks since launching their website and brand Born Again Backyards. Families choose from a range of obstacles like "ninja walls," ring swings, monkey bars and climbing obstacles, and can have one or many installed. Colors are customizable to match customers' yards. The structures are semi-permanent, similar to a playground set.
"Our best seller is the ninja wall because it is so unique and kids love the challenge of running up it."
The walls range in price from $650 to $1,000 depending on the wall height.
The Daly family got involved in ninja warrior training when oldest son Clint Daly wanted to try the sport but there were no gyms on Long Island offering the equipment. Once children begin having birthday parties again, the couple hope to offer rentals for backyard parties.
This article originally appeared on the Northport Patch
