The Potential of School Campuses to Promote Active Communities: A Scoping Review on Usage and Physical Activity in School Shared Use Spaces.

Abstract

Background: Ensuring access to safe and affordable recreational spaces is vital for promoting health and well-being. Despite the potential of shared use agreements between schools and community entities as a strategy to expand recreational access, there is a limited existing body of research connecting access to actual usage of these spaces and resulting physical activity levels. This scoping review aimed to synthesize existing literature on the (1) usage of and (2) physical activity in school shared use spaces to inform efforts to promote active and healthy communities.

Methods: Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines, we extracted key information from eligible research, including objectives, theoretical frameworks, study designs, data collection methods, and findings.

Results: Twenty-seven articles were included across at least 13 US states and 4 countries, with most studies (85%) classified as observational and utilizing various data collection methods (eg, self-report, observation [56%]), and lacking theoretical or conceptual frameworks (56%). Outcomes focused on usage patterns and physical activity levels related to access to school shared use spaces were found in 24 (89%) and 23 studies (85%), respectively.

Conclusions: The findings highlight the potential role schools can play as a space for providing opportunities for physical activity, especially when complemented by renovations, structured programming, and safety considerations. However, the variability in outcomes indicates a need for community-specific, adaptable practices. Future research should focus on developing and evaluating tailored strategies that actively engage communities to identify their local shared use needs, and optimize and sustain the use of school shared spaces for physical activity.