Shared-use agreements are a good way to improve community health and well-being by increasing families’ access to recreational facilities. A shared-use agreement is a formal agreement between a school and a community agency for the use of facilities, such as gymnasiums, tracks, cafeterias, and athletic fields, during non-school hours. Schools can share spaces with the YMCA or city government, for example, with the benefit of shared costs and protection from liability. The Kentucky Cancer Consortium and Kentucky Youth Advocates explain how shared-use agreements can work for communities in the 2012 report, Sharing School Facilities. Also, Change Lab Solutions offers a checklist and model agreements for those interested in developing an agreement.

Shared-use agreements increase physical activity options, cultivate community partnerships, and develop opportunities for family time. Interested in creating a shared-use agreement in your local school? Learn more in the infographic below. A printable version of the infographic is available here.

 Shared Use Agreements (1)