about us

fun abounds | Southern Texas Playground Company

Welcome to fun abounds! Serving your park and recreation needs in Houston and Southeast Texas. We proudly represent commercial playgrounds equipment by BCI Burke, Berliner Play Equipment, and ID Sculpture. We also carry site amenities by USA Shade, Rubber Designs, StayFit, Frog Furnishings, MyTCoat and Percussion Play. It is with great enthusiasm and passion that fun abounds was started in 2007 to further enhance the park and recreation offerings in this area. Please call today and let us know how we can help with your project.

Leigh Walden

President

It all started with a … swingset. 18 years later fun abounds is still serving Southern Texas’ park and rec needs, and owner, Leigh Walden, couldn’t be prouder of her company’s success. After Leigh’s husband experienced a layoff, she had no other choice but to help support her family. Emboldened by her daughter’s love of swinging tinged with necessity, Leigh started selling playgrounds equipment. Almost instantly, what started as a necessity transformed into a passion for helping clients create playground memories filled with fun. As a Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI), Leigh also prioritizes safety and functionality in every project.

Mike Giehl

Vice President of Sales

Mike has been in the park and rec business since 2009, and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to fun abounds! When he’s not working, he loves spending time with his wife, son and the three pooches. Together, they like to hike in the hill country and enjoy the lakes. He has even been known to run through a sprinkler or two on those hot, Texas summer days!

Ellie Mason

Project Manager

Ellie comes to us with a long line of exceptional customer-first experience; always excelling and most often has become the right-hand person to top execs. Her positive attitude and can-do mentality earn praise from all of us at fun abounds. She loves her dogs, Piper & Oakley, and her cat, Chester. She is currently planning her wedding for November 2022 with her fiancé, Seth. In her free time, Ellie enjoys spending time with friends and family, as well as fishing and traveling anywhere there is a beach.

Norman Cue

Business Development Manager - North Houston & Northwest Surrounding Areas

Norman is a lifelong learner and educator. His parents originally immigrated to the United States from Argentina and taught him to value hard work and discipline. He studied Spanish at Texas A&M University and became a teacher for many years. After receiving a master’s in educational leadership and an MBA, he left education to pursue Entrepreneurship. After 5 years of disconnecting with today’s youth, he decided to join the fun abounds team to once again put smiles on kids faces and be a part of the positive impact we can bring to children’s lives. In his spare time Norman enjoys spending time with his family, church service, being outdoors and watching sports.

Payton Palmer-Newton

Business Development Manager- Coastal Bend Territory

Payton Palmer Newton is a recreation enthusiast who possesses a BS in Exercise Science from Colorado State University – Pueblo and a MS in Recreation Administration from Texas State University. Payton has several years experience working in a number of roles in the recreation field including: athletics, outdoor recreation, event planning and guest services. Payton is passionate about the essential role that recreation plays in the lives of people of all ages and he is motivated to help develop playgrounds in a way that can contribute to lifelong memories for all families who visit them. When not working Payton enjoys watching sports, playing golf, traveling, and spending time with his friends and family.

Oz Estrada

Business Development Manager

fun abounds is proud to introduce our newest team member, Oswald Estrada. Our latest team addition brings in over 12 years of invaluable military expertise as a sensor operator in the Air Force. A University of Houston graduate in industrial design, he subsequently contributed to the automotive design industry in California as a clay modeler and digital fabrication specialist. He’s best know as “Oz,” and enjoys moments with family, his wife and Zeus, his canine companion. When not immersed in family life, you might spot him cruising the Greater Houston Area in his cherished classic Japanese cars, trying a new restaurant, or watching formula one (F1).

Tyler Cole

Project Coordinator

Tyler is one of the newest employees and already has taken the crown as the funniest employee in the office by far. He loves football the most but is an all-around sports guy. He loves everything to do with the water and sun so during the summer months you can catch him at the pool or beach getting his tan on. Traveling the world is his top priority in life and is excited to check more places off his bucket list! He truly loves helping people and he says working at fun abounds feels so good because it’s like In a way he is helping the children have a fun safe place to play and there’s nothing better that helping the kids.

See Our Team Shine

Why our clients love fun abounds!

Check out this client testimonial about a playgrounds equipment project we completed in Brookshire, Texas. We pride ourselves in working with our clients to create customized and unique playgrounds the community can enjoy for years to come. At fun abounds we are proud to be a part of creating playground memories filled with fun!

Drone video from Decker Elementary playground in Austin, Texas!

fun abounds appreciated the opportunity to work with Manor ISD to help them create this incredible playgrounds equipment for students at Decker Elementary! We loved incorporating the client’s desires into a new playground that their students will love for many years to come! Check out this drone video captured by our sales representative Mike Giehl, and see how we can help you create playground memories filled with fun like we do for every client!

Follow the Fun!

fun abounds offers a wide selection of commercial playground equipment from the most trusted product lines in the industry. We also carry other site amenities to complete your play area including safety surfacing, shade structures, picnic tables, benches, and more.