title: Schools as a community resource for physical activity: legal considerations for decision makers.
abstract: Public schools may offer community residents access to gymnasiums, playfields, etc. When school facilities are available and/or opened up for public use in this manner, what are the legal obligations and liability concerns that arise for the schools and the users? Joint- and shared-use facilities and lands have some legal protections, which this paper introduces and reviews. Legal cases (and precedent) are shared with readers. Within this context, a model depicting factors influencing decisions to allow public use of school facilities for recreation and physical activity is introduced.
authors.affiliation: Department of Tourism, Recreation and Sport Management, College of Health and Human Performance, University of Florida, PO Box 118208, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA. spengler@hhp.ufl.edu
authors.forename: John O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Spengler
authors.forename: Sarah J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Leslie S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Linton
mesh_terms: D003153:Community Health Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003657:Decision Making; D005431:Florida; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D016365:Liability, Legal; D008019:Life Style; D009043:Motor Activity; D017150:Public Sector / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011998:Recreation; D012574:Schools / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D012938:Social Perception; D014481:United States