141st APHA Annual Meeting

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282326
Sharing the playground: Community partnerships and expanding opportunities for physical activity through joint use agreements

Monday, November 4, 2013

Monica Chierici, MPA , DASH-NY, New York State’s Obesity Prevention Policy Center, The New York Academy of Medicine, New York, NY
Rachel Manes, M.S., M.Phil. , Psychology Program, City University of New York, Graduate Center, New York, NY
According to the National Physical Activity Plan, community access to recreational facilities, including school property, can help people of all ages become more active support better health outcomes (CDC, 1996; IOM, 2009). This presentation provides guidance for physical activity advocates and policymakers who are working to increase to safe and convenient places to be physically active in their communities. Joint Use Agreements provide an immediate, low-cost solution to poor access to recreational facilities for physical activity. They are best achieved through community partnerships and promote other potential benefits, such as improved social networks and reduced crime.

With funding from NYS DOH, the DASH-NY Obesity Prevention Coalition conducted a survey of New York State organizations to identify common challenges in improving access to recreational facilities through joint use agreements. Key concerns include liability, maintenance, operations, and acquiring funding support. Results from the survey informed the creation of a Joint Use Toolkit “how to” guide for promoting physical activity, fostering community safety, and enhancing community connections through local policies. The toolkit emphasizes how multi-sector partnerships support the successful implementation of joint use agreements, a cost-effective strategy for increasing equitable access to opportunities for physical activity.

Information from the toolkit and copies of the toolkit itself will be provided. The presentation will cover best practices for joint use in rural and urban communities. Examples of model policies and successful collaborations will also be presented along with information on local and statewide policies to support joint use implementation.

Learning Areas:
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs

Learning Objectives:
Identify challenges to increasing community access to physical activity through joint use agreements. Discuss how joint use agreements can be a cost-effective strategy for increasing access to physical activity in communities that lack recreational facilities. Describe best practices for joint use in rural versus urban communities and public versus private spaces across the United States.

Keywords: Physical Activity, Community-Based Partnership

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present on joint use because I manage the DASH-NY Obesity Prevention Coalition and Policy Center and previously coordinated The New York City Food and Fitness Partnership. Both of these projects require expertise in multisector partnerships, community development, disease prevention, evidence-based research, as well as how to advance policy and systems changes that improve health in communities.
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.