With an immersive, high-tech world of video games, cartoons-on-demand, and online social networking at their fingertips, the youth of today are spending less time recreating in the great outdoors. The seesaws, swing sets, and jungle gyms languishing in the playgrounds of yesteryear can't compete for the attention of this budding, screen-wired generation.

But all hope is not lost, say some promising new minds in the resurging play equipment manufacturing industry. From high-end designers to proactive nonprofits, a variety of fresh voices in the field are working to give little Johnny compelling reasons to come out and play.