Joint Use Agreements
Allowing children and families to use school facilities, such as gyms, playgrounds, sports fields, and courts, outside of normal school hours can be a cost-effective way to promote physical activity. This is especially true in lower-income communities and communities of color that often lack recreational resources.
Legal contracts, commonly referred to as joint use agreements, can set the terms for sharing public property or facilities. For example, a joint use agreement may allow community members to use school fields for free when school is not in session, or permit a school to use recreational facilities at a local park. Joint use agreements also can address concerns about liability, costs, staffing, and maintenance, which often keep schools from sharing their facilities.
RWJF grantees and partners are seeking solutions that will help more schools and communities share their existing resources to help children and families be more active.
