Recreation agencies give new life to empty schools

Obsolete school buildings do not have to be 'white elephants' in your community.

By Drs. Jim Brademas and George A. Lowrey, Jr.

The decreased birth rate during the past 20 years has forced the closing of a number of Illinois schools. The Illinois State Board of Education reports that 450 school buildings were taken out of use between 1982 and '85. Of these schools, 175 were sold and 20 were demolished. According to Chaska (1985), an additional 117 schools were closed and 138 rented during 1984 and '85.

These schools represent a valuable potential resource for Illinois leisure service agencies wishing to expand their facilities and programs. Many agencies now use existing school buildings for after school, evening and Saturday recreational programs. However, no information is available on the use of closed public school buildings for recreation.

Special study

Our study was concerned with the use of school buildings which have been closed for regular school use and converted to use for recreation. We wanted to determine:

• if park and recreation agencies in Illinois are using obsolete school buildings,

• what types of schools are being used,

• to what uses these schools have been put,

• whether they are leased or purchased and

• the degree of satisfaction associated with the use of these school buildings.

The data were collected by mailing a self-administered questionnaire to 280 directors on the Illinois Park and Recreation's (IPRA) current membership list. A total of 57.8 percent (162) of the questionnaires were returned.

Results

Findings indicate that 68 elementary, junior high and high schools which have been closed are currently used by 54 Illinois leisure service agencies. When extrapolated from this sample to the total population, indications are that 94 agencies in the State are using 117 closed school buildings for recreational purposes.

The respondents are quite representative of Illinois public park and recreation agencies both in type and population. Park districts represented the largest group of agencies (61 percent) with 96 respondents, followed by 38 municipal agencies (24.2 percent). There were also 12 special recreation associations and six county and forest preserve districts. Fifty-three percent of the responding agencies served communities with populations of 10,000 to 45,000.

The 54 agencies using school buildings which had been closed indicated that elementary schools were the most widely used (49 or 72 percent). This finding seems quite logical in that elementary schools generally are located within walking distance for neighborhood use by children and adults. In

Illinois Parks and Recreation 11 March/April 1986

addition, the familiarity with the neighborhood-centered school and its facilities offers another advantage to local residents.

Junior high schools represented the second highest use with 14 or 21 percent. Lastly, there were five high schools in use

Varied uses

School buildings lend themselves to various uses as evidenced by the agencies' responses. Some 115 different types of uses were recorded, with the general category of community center the most predominant (41 or 35.6 percent). Interestingly, 20 agencies were using school buildings as headquarters and another six indicated schools were being used as satellite offices.

Thirty-eight agencies were using schools as fitness and cultural arts centers, while 36 agencies listed senior citizen and sports centers. Ten agencies listed centers for disabled persons.

It is obvious from the responses that school buildings have been put to meaningful and imaginative use. Because the majority of schools are neighborhood-centered, considerable additional convenient access to leisure opportunities has been afforded. Otherwise, the people served might have found it difficult to travel to more distant locations if, in fact, any other locations were available.

Other results

A total of 32 agencies or 59.3 per cent were renting space to other organizations. Rentals were almost equally divided among hobby clubs, youth clubs, private schools, special

Illinois Parks and Recreation 12 March/April 1986

recreation associations (serving the disabled) and sports groups. When opportunity is provided for space, there are organizations willing to use such space.

The findings on schools purchased or leased was somewhat puzzling in that 21 agencies indicated no purchase or lease costs. From the comments, there was some indication that these agencies were either using existing school buildings at no cost or the respondents simply failed to answer the question.

Purchase costs reflected wide ranges from a low of $1 to a high of $850,000. Lease costs ranged from $1 to $70,000. Obviously, these figures represent local situations in regard to size, age and condition of the schools.

The attitudes of local school boards and citizens toward the use of a public facility, already paid for by tax funds, by a second public agency were also considered. Eighty-eight respondents indicated they were "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with the decision to use a closed school building for recreation. Only three respondents indicated they were dissatisfied.

Again, the total of respondents to the question on satisfaction was much higher than the total who originally indicated they had purchased or leased a closed school. Apparently some respondents are using existing school buildings and chose to indicate their satisfaction with such arrangements.

General comments

Respondents were given an opportunity to make general comments on the use of school buildings. While there are too few comments to make any definitive statements, generally the disadvantages had to do with the inefficiency of space in schools for recreational purposes and the lack of understanding and cooperation on the part of school officials.

In contrast, some comments indicated that the use of closed school buildings had added considerably to the programs offered by the agencies.

Conclusions

Closed schools are being used to considerable advantage for recreation in Illinois. The uses to which they have been put are many and varied, and appear to reflect a genuine need for indoor facilities. Apparently it is more economical to convert an existing school for use than it is to build a new facility.

This judgment is based on the fact that some schools are purchased or

Illinois Parks and Recreation 13 March/April 1986

leased for as little as $1. A large majority (85 percent) of the agencies appear to be very satisfied with their decision to convert a school building to recreational use.

Recommendations

Several recommendations are to be made from the results of this study. First, leisure service agencies should play a role in the planning of new school buildings. Such action today would insure that new schools were planned with a recreation or community wide function supplementary to the traditional function of education. In the event the school is closed in the future, the conversion for recreational use would be easier to implement.

Such cooperative efforts must be carefully nurtured and, most logically, stem from actions taken by leisure service agency professionals and elected representatives of municipalities and park boards. Some school officials may not even be aware of the great potential of schools for recreational use.

Secondly, it is recommended that leisure service agencies assess the long-range needs for facilities in their communities. The results of such an assessment may provide the necessary documentation for the rational use of existing school buildings as well as the use of schools which may be closed in the future. Again, the necessity for a close working relationship with school officials is evident.

Copies of the full report on the Uses of Obsolete Schools for Recreation, including sample purchase and lease agreements, may be obtained at a cost from the Office of Recreation and Park Resources at the University of Illinois.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Dr. James Brademas, Ph.D., is an associate professor and community recreation specialist at the University of Illinois in Urbana. Dr. George A. Lowrey, Jr., Ph.D., is also at the University of Illinois in the capacity of assistant professor and educational resources specialist.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 14 March/April 1986