Boulder Civic Park · Boulder, COBuilt to be touched, climbed, and experienced, naturally.
One of North America's most durable native hardwoods. Rot resistant, non-toxic, and built to withstand constant contact from animals, children, and the elements alike.
Solid Black Locust from 4" to 12" diameter, 8' to 14' long
Solid locust rounds, sanded and peeled for a smooth tactile surface. Available with retained branch features for organic design character, configurable as enclosure walls, climbing elements, balance features, or perimeter barriers without supplemental treatment.
The next generation of outdoor spaces.
The right wood for animal enclosures
Zoo environments demand materials that withstand constant gnawing, clawing, and moisture exposure without leaching chemicals that harm animals. Black Locust contains no preservatives, no CCA, no ACQ. Its natural oils make it inherently hostile to rot and insects. What animals touch, chew, or rest against is exactly what it appears to be: wood, and nothing else.
Palisades & natural form
Solid locust rounds, sanded and peeled for a smooth tactile surface. Available with retained branch features for organic design character, configurable as enclosure walls, climbing elements, balance features, or perimeter barriers without supplemental treatment.
Built for children's playgrounds
Children interact with playground materials through direct skin contact, climbing, and mouthing. Pressure-treated lumber carries chemical risk; composites lack the warmth of natural wood. Black Locust offers a third path: durable enough for heavy play use, splinter-resistant when sanded and peeled, and free of any chemical treatment.
Specification advantage
For architects moving away from ACQ-treated lumber or FSC-imported tropical hardwoods, Black Locust delivers equivalent longevity with a verifiably domestic supply chain. Its material profile aligns with LEED, WELL, and biophilic design frameworks.
For zoos & conservation
Building Partnerships With Zoos
Zoos spend their days protecting forests, and their habitats shouldn’t be built from them. Black Locust is a North American hardwood, grown and milled in Pennsylvania, with no tropical imports and no chemical treatment, and it lasts for decades.
Planning a new habitat or play space?
Let’s talkBLL is happy to donate
5%
On every zoo project, we give 5% back to the institution’s conservation or education fund.
The 50-Year Limited Warranty
Black locust is one of the most naturally rot resistant hardwoods on earth. We back every board that leaves our yard with the longest warranty in the lumber industry.
Read the full warranty
