The Recreational Use of Land and Water Act (RULWA) offers immunity from personal injury lawsuits to landowners who allow their land to be used without charge for recreational purposes. After recent amendments, the courts have begun to construe the law more broadly to recognize immunities even when the land has some “development”on it, such as playgrounds. Some recent cases have dealt with government owned land which has its own immunity statute. WeConservePA has excellent resources in its Conservation Tools explaining the law, but many people don’t know it exists. Explaining that the law exists is sometimes necessary for both landowners and their advisors, like their attorneys or insurance agents, to feel comfortable allowing their land to be used for trails or outdoor events. At the same time, it’s unclear whether the law protects volunteers or park “friends” groups, and amendments have been proposed to add them. Understanding the law and recent cases “explaining” it will help us use the law better and to be moreeffective in advocating for changes.
