Oral

Purpose: Lack of parks, playgrounds and open space is a social justice issue that can be addressed through policy and environmental changes. Considering that one quarter of California teens don�t have a safe park near home 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: Lower-income communities typically have less access to parks, playgrounds and open space than affluent communities. Eliminating this disparity is an important step toward improving both kids� and adults� levels of physical activity. 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.

Session Objectives: 1. Define 4 different types of joint use agreements 2. Describe why joint use may be a useful strategy for equalizing access to physical activity opportunities, especially in park-poor communities. 3. Locate at least 2 online resources to build understanding of joint use and help advance local joint use efforts 4. 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.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)