Two new ball fields and four existing fields will be shared by Andalusia City and Covington County in Alabama. City and county baseball and softball leagues will be able to share use of the fields as part of a joint use agreement approved Tuesday by the Andalusia City Council. According to Mayor Earl Johnson safety is a consideration of the agreement. Space between the fields will be closed off to traffic in order to make the park safer for children. Follow the above link to learn more about how the project will be funded.

In November a $50 million bond measure will be up for vote in San Leandro. Included in the language of the bond is reconstructing fields at several schools within the San Leandro School District. At a joint meeting of the city council and school board liaison committee, School Superintendent Cindy Cathey responded “No” when asked if the school district had the financial ability to operate sports facilities across the city if the bond measure is approved. A joint-use agreement between the city and San Leandro School District may be the only feasible way to operate the facilities.

Burroughs elementary school recently became the first elementary school in the Fresno Unified School District to adopt a joint use policy.  Thanks to the work of Susana Cruz, Adriana Figueroa, and other Fresno area women an agreement was met that allows the elementary school to remain open to the public during the summer. Check out how the joint use policy has helped the Fresno community live healthier and more active lives.

California Project LEAN and the California Department of Public Health have released a Request for Applications to fund school district work on implementing and adopting joint use policy. Schools, school districts, county offices of education, community-based organizations, and non-profits may apply. Grant applications are due on Friday, August 27th by 5:00pm. For information on how to apply or to obtain an application please contact Laura Rubin by e-mail at laura.rubin@cdph.ca.gov or by phone at 916-445-2974 or contact Joanne Gooley by e-mail at Joanne.gooley@cdph.ca.gov or by phone at 916-449-5294.

Former NFL football player Zeph Lee, now a South Los Angeles physical education instructor, explores how an active lifestyle can be learned in school and the positive impact exercise has on academic performance. Lee also talks about how opening up school facilities to the public fosters community, especially in low-income areas lacking safe open spaces. “The Inner City Outside” video (Funded by The California Endowment with Kaiser Permanente Community Benefit Program) available through link

Santa Ana is one of the most crowded cities in America, and its population is among the youngest. Yet it has a fraction of the park space that other large California cities have come to expect… It’s also in talks with the school district about opening some school fields after hours and on the weekends. “There’re actually green fields out there,” Councilman Vincent Sarmiento said – they’re just not open without a school pass.

“Neighborhoods most in need of more school seats  are also the neighborhoods most in need of access to family health care, green  space, affordable housing, and early childhood and adult education. We also  know that the social and physical environments of neighborhoods contribute to  the ultimate success of students and their families.” Los Angeles County Director of Public Health, Dr. Jonathan Fielding

With budget cuts to physical education programs and academics being prioritized over physical activity during the school day, after school programs have a unique position to get youth active. CANFIT created a pilot project testing the California Department of Education-developed guidelines in after school programs serving low income communities. http://canfit.org

The Tulane Prevention Research Center (PRC) concluded its five-year Core Research Project in 2009, and determined that environmental changes promoting physical activity in a low-income, New Orleans neighborhood translated to slight increases in moderate and vigorous activity compared to declines in comparison neighborhoods