However, once the school day is over, many school grounds and facilities sit empty. As interest grows in addressing pressing social concerns such as childhood obesity, lack of recreation/open space, suburban sprawl, and the need to efficiently use limited public resources, many consider expanding the use of school spaces to include non-school users (commonly referred to as, “joint use”) a strategic approach to help address these issues. 

School districts, local municipalities, and/or nonprofit partners throughout the country are countering the common separation of uses and working together to accommodate school and community needs on school property. Using California as a “meta case,” this research report establishes an empirical understanding of the full range of joint use and how specific strategies fit into a larger picture of more efficiently and appropriately utilizing public school spaces for educational and community purposes.