Why we built FreePlay
FreePlay started with a simple problem: the inevitable "Daddy, I need to go to the toilet," the second we arrived at what turned out to be the most remote playground in the country. Two tired kids in the car, nowhere to park, no toilet, and a gate left wide open beside a busy road.
So we started keeping notes. Not the stuff on the map, but the practical detail that actually decides where a family goes.
That little list grew into FreePlay: a free app, made by parents, to help every family find the right spot near them.
Meet the founder
Steve
Founder · Parent · Builder
Hi, I'm Steve. I couldn't think of anything more cringe than writing a bio about myself, so I got a good friend to write it for me. See below!
Steve is a proud dad to Maia and Logan, and a bit of a perfectionist who wants every day out with the kids to feel special. The likes of Google Maps (other map providers are available) will happily tell you where the playgrounds and family spots are, but Steve always found the same things missing. Does it definitely have toilets for Logie? Is it fenced in and safe to let them roam? Is there ice cream nearby for Maia? And, most importantly, is there a coffee to be had for Steve himself, after being awake half the night building this app for other parents?
He's an entrepreneur and a psychotherapist in training and, if you ask me, a pretty great dad. But he built FreePlay for one simple reason: to make family days out a little easier, and to bring a bit of joy to yours. Give it a go!
- Leonie
steve@freeplay.ieFrom finding places to planning days
FreePlay started as a playground finder. It has grown into a family day-out decision engine: playgrounds, libraries, parks, walks, Beaches & Swims, free activities and clearly marked family venues, with the practical facts families check before leaving the house.
The next step was obvious once parents started asking the same question: "Just tell us where to go." Help Me Choose does exactly that, building a small shortlist with clear reasons around the weather, the journey and the crew, and being honest about what is still unknown.
Why FreePlay is free
FreePlay's core map, public places, safety and accessibility information are free for every family. Parents who become FreePlay Heroes unlock the planning tools that make family days easier and help pay for the maps, data and ongoing work behind the free app.
Made by a parent. Kept growing by parents.
Come and explore with us
Download FreePlay and find your next family day out.
