231148 Use of Public Facilities: Equalizing Access to Physical Activity Opportunities

Wednesday, November 10, 2010 : 1:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Manal Aboelata, MPH , Prevention Institute, Los Angeles, CA
Heather Gehlert, MJ , Public Health Institute, Berkeley Media Studies Group, Berkeley, CA
Robert S. Ogilvie, PhD , Planning fro Healthy Places, Public Health Law & Policy, Public Health Institute, Oakland, CA
Lorena Ramos, MPH Candidate , Central California Regional Obesity Prevention Program (CCROPP), Fresno, CA
Purpose: Lack of parks, playgrounds and open space is a social justice issue that can be addressed through policy and environmental changes. Joint-use is a policy mechanism that provides for shared use of public spaces. This session will describe 4 elements of a multi-faceted effort to create equitable access to physical activity and recreation opportunities in California. Through the development of a taskforce, a toolkit, a website and a series of local photo-voice projects, the four speakers will describe how California has witnessed rapid mobilization to advance joint use and share implications for other states interested in these approaches. Relevance: Most Americans are unable to achieve recommended amounts of physical activity. Lack of access to parks, playgrounds and open space is a key determinant of activity levels. Joint use of public facilities — the sharing of space between schools and communities--is one way to increase availability of safe, conveniently located places to exercise and play. It is also a way for local entities to pool resources and share in the operations and maintenance of these spaces. As our nation grapples with inactivity-related illness amidst difficult economic times, joint use is a good solution that supports physical activity through wise use of public resources.

Learning Areas:
Diversity and culture
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Participants will be able to: Define 4 different types of joint use agreements Describe why joint use may be a useful strategy for equalizing access to physical activity opportunities, especially in park-poor communities. Locate at least 2 online resources to build understanding of joint use and help advance local joint use efforts Identify at least 3 different efforts underway in California to increase the number of joint use agreements and infer ways in which these can be replicated and / or applied in their own jurisdictions.

Keywords: Policy/Policy Development, Physical Activity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I oversee management of projects related to improving access to healthy foods, preventing injuries, and increasing opportunities for physical activity. I chair the Joint Use Statewide Taskforce (JUST), whose mission is to increase community access to playgrounds through the policy of joint use agreements between school districts and local governments.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.