Introduction
The Community Guide, a leading source for evidence-based public health practice, has identified “increasing access to spaces for physical activity” as a key aspect of childhood obesity prevention.
According to Public Health Law and Policy (PHLP), joint use has emerged as one of the most promising strategies for increasing access to recreation opportunities in neighborhoods. Joint use, sometimes called “shared use,” is the practice of two or more agencies or groups sharing space. Some examples of joint use are: a schoolyard is opened to the public for recreation after school hours; a swim team and a school share a swimming pool; a recreation center opens its basketball courts to a physical education teacher so that students have a place for exercise. Most often, we hear of joint use being used to increase physical activity, but joint use can also support healthy eating.
