Community Partnerships for Physical Activity:
Shared-Use of Public Facilities
Michael Kanters, Jason Bocarro, Keith Howard
North Carolina State University
Childhood Inactivity and Obesity
• NC ranks 10th and 11th in
adult and childhood obesity
• Opportunities for daily
physical activity have
diminished
• Access to community-based
physical activity opportunities
increases children’s physical
activity levels and lowers BMI
Underused Community Facilities
• Community facilities
designed for physical activity
are typically underused
• Schools, parks and
recreation, churches all
have a diversity of facilities
• Limitations imposed by
singular use facilities – e.g.,
softball fields
• Reluctance to share facilities
with other community
groups/individuals
Community Partnerships for Shared Use
• Partnerships between schools, parks & recreation,
and faith based organizations for shared-use of
facilities has received growing attention
• Unfortunately partnerships for shared-use are rare.
• Barriers include:
•
•
•
•
Liability concerns
Safety & security
Maintenance costs
Cost of added administration & operational activities
A Success Story – Apex, NC
• Joint-Use Agreement between Apex Parks & Rec –
Wake County Public Schools
• Extensive use by Apex recreation/sport programs
during non-school hours
• School facility improvements
• School sport program use of community facilities
• Joint-use agreement specifies liability and expense
responsibilities
• Trusting relationship that benefits the community
Share-Use Resources
• National Policy & Legal Analysis Network (NPLAN)
• http://www.nplanonline.org/nplan
• http://www.phlpnet.org/childhoodobesity/products/nplan-joint-use-agreements
• Public Health Law & Policy
• http://www.phlpnet.org/search/node/joint%20use
Questions & Comments
Michael Kanters
Dept. of Parks, Recreation & Tourism Mgmt.
North Carolina State University
Box 8004, 4012E Biltmore Hall
Raleigh, NC 27695
mkanters@ncsu.edu