Every child deserves a place to climb, explore, imagine and play. In Bledsoe County, Tennessee, the school playground is one of the few places where many children get that opportunity.

"Being a small rural community, we don't have a lot of YMCAs or any of those areas for kids. When they're at school, that's when they get to play," said Brian Turner, director of transportation and plant operations for Bledsoe County Schools.

District leaders knew their aging elementary playgrounds needed attention. One school hadn’t received new equipment for 15 to 20 years. The challenge was finding a procurement approach that balanced efficiency with the flexibility to meet each school's needs.

While exploring options, Turner learned that cooperative purchasing could help simplify the procurement process. By using an existing competitively awarded contract for playground equipment through Sourcewell, staff avoided running separate solicitation and were able to spend more time planning the playground improvements.

“We were able to use Sourcewell and just get that equipment on the way,” said Kara Walling, finance director. Cooperative purchasing also gave schools something they didn't want to lose: choice. Each principal selected the equipment they wanted for their school, including colors and other features. That flexibility meant every playground reflected the people who used it instead of a one-size-fits-all design.

Turner said a traditional solicitation could have resulted in lower-priced proposals that didn't include the equipment principals wanted. That would have meant additional conversations about why another option better served students, even if it wasn't the lowest-priced response.

By streamlining the purchasing process, district leaders spent less time managing paperwork and more time creating places where children could simply play. The impact was immediate. "They came home and that's the first thing they said, 'We have a whole new playground!'" said Walling.

Bledsoe County Schools' experience shows that efficient procurement can help communities bring projects to life. Whether you're improving a neighborhood park or updating a school playground, trying new approaches can help create more opportunities for outdoor play.

What project is next on your community's wish list, and what would help move it forward? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Lindsey Wade is a senior partner account executive at Sourcewell.

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