PlayPlace is McDonald's brand name for its children's play areas, first introduced in 1971.
The play areas were created to make McDonald's restaurants more appealing to families and to encourage longer visits. Early PlayPlaces used climbing structures, slides, and other equipment associated with the McDonaldland characters.
PlayPlace became part of the restaurant's physical branding, extending the company's identity beyond its signs, packaging, and advertising. Its structures often used bright colors and recognizable shapes that matched McDonald's family-oriented image.
The term is sometimes used loosely for any play area at a fast-food restaurant, but PlayPlace is specifically associated with McDonald's. Over time, many locations replaced or removed traditional equipment, and newer sites commonly use updated indoor or outdoor designs with stronger safety features.