Access to Places
for Physical Activity

This Active People, Healthy Nation strategy creates or enhances access to places for physical activity and provides information to encourage their use. Places can include public parks and trails, fitness and recreational facilities, schools and universities, malls, senior centers, and worksites. Information may involve training, incentives, and teaching about healthy behaviors. Worksites, school districts, early childhood and education (ECE) facilities, organizations, and community coalitions can improve access to safe places to be physically active for young people and adults through the following approaches:

Shared-use agreements

Shared-use agreements allow public access to existing facilities by defining terms and conditions for sharing the costs and risks associated with expanding a property’s use. For example, school districts may create shared-use agreements to allow after-hours access to school facilities for community members to use.

• Shared-Use Agreements
• National Shared Use Task Force
• Join the Shared Use Google Group
• Shared Use Resolution
• Safe Routes to School Messaging for Pros Toolkit
• "But How Will We Pay For It?" Active Transportation Funding Mechanisms: Municipal Bonds 101

Workplace facilities and polices

Workplace facilities and polices that are designed to improve health behaviors can help employees to be more active. Worksites can encourage physical activity through a variety of approaches to include management support, physical access to facilities, policies, and social support programs.

• Workwellnc.com
• Active Design Guidelines
• Physical Activity Breaks for the Workplace Resource Guide.
• Guide to Making Physical Activity a Part of Meetings, Conference and Events

Parks and recreation centers

Community organizations and locations can provide access to safe places to be physically active—such as walking trails, indoor facilities, parks, and playgrounds—away from busy streets. Health and fitness facilities provide indoor opportunities to be physically active. These locations and facilities can also provide options to make physical activity safer and more comfortable for people with mobility limitations or chronic health conditions.

• Safe Routes to Parks Infographic
• Safe Routes to Parks Walk Audit Toolkit
• Creating Active Outdoor Play Spaces Guide
• Park Audit Toolkit
• Parks and Recreation: A Health & Wellness Solution Infographic
• Improving Public Health through Public Parks and Trails - Eight Common Measures
• Safe Routes to Parks - Improving Access to Parks through Walkability
• Parks, Trails, and Health Workbook - A Tool for Planners, Parks and Recreational Professionals, and Health Practitioners