School districts in some states, including all five surveyed, may have additional protection under «recreational use» statutes, which offer immunity from
certain claims
against landowners who open their property to the public for recreational use.10 In states with broad recreational use statutes, such as Indiana, opening school kitchen facilities could be considered a protected activity under the law, depending on the circumstances of the use and other
factors.11 However, in Massachusetts, protection for recreational activities extends only to purposes that are «scientific, educational,
environmental, ecological, research, religious, or charitable,» 12 so the state's statute might not apply when districts allow for - profit groups to use school kitchens.