Association of Street Connectivity and Road Traffic Speed with Park Usage and Park-Based Physical Activity

Kaczynski, Andrew T.; Koohsari, Mohammad Javad; Stanis, Sonja A. Wilhelm; Bergstrom, Ryan D.; Sugiyama, Takemi

doi:10.4278/ajhp.120711-quan-339

Cited by 87 publications

(62 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…For example, we found no association (cross-sectional or longitudinal) between availability of sidewalks and ORA use or rating of quality of street lighting and ORA use. At the same time, ratings of lighter motorized traffic were marginally related to increased ORA use, which is consistent with past research about neighborhood traffic speed and park visitation among adults (Kaczynski et al, 2014a). However, rating one’s neighborhood as a pleasant place to walk was related to decreased ORA use over time, which may simply represent a displacement of PA from parks and trails to other neighborhood settings (e.g., sidewalks, streets).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Longitudinal associations with changes in outdoor recreation area use for physical activity during a community-based intervention

Schoffman

Kaczynski

Forthofer

et al. 2015

Preventive Medicine

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Outdoor recreation areas (ORA) are important resources for physical activity (PA) and health promotion. While past research has identified correlates of ORA use, few studies have examined predictors of longitudinal changes in park- and trail-based PA in community settings. Using data from a 6-month community-based walking intervention study, we examined cross-sectional and longitudinal predictors of PA in ORAs. Data were collected from baseline and 6-month assessments from participants (n=295) in a group walking intervention in South Carolina; participants enrolled from January 2012-May 2013. A decomposition scheme was used to examine the cross-sectional and longitudinal predictors of average group ORA use for PA, including social support, self-efficacy for PA, perceptions of neighborhood environment, and accelerometer-based PA, adjusting for gender. On average, participants were 49.4+13.3 years old, 66.1% were Black, and the majority were women. There was a mean increase in group ORA use of 2.1+0.4 days/month from baseline to 6 months. Cross-sectionally, higher levels of the percentage of time in MVPA, self-efficacy, and social support were associated with greater group-average ORA use. Longitudinally, increased social support from friends and rating of lighter motorized traffic were associated with increased group ORA use. Additionally, longitudinal increases in percentage of MVPA and more favorable rating of the neighborhood as a place to walk were both associated with decreased group ORA use. Better understanding how social and physical environmental characteristics impact ORA use for PA can lead to more effective intervention strategies and warrants greater attention in future research and public health promotion efforts.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Longitudinal associations with changes in outdoor recreation area use for physical activity during a community-based intervention

Schoffman

Kaczynski

Forthofer

et al. 2015

Preventive Medicine

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“…A study of parks in New York City noted that although there may be more parks in lower income neighborhoods, there was lower social access because of higher crime, fewer park acres, and more noxious land uses (Weiss et al, 2011). Other contextual factors also influence park use including street connectivity (Kaczynski, Koohsari, Stanis, Bergstrom, & Sugiyama, 2014) and land use mix (Frank et al, 2012). While one study indicated no difference in perceived accessibility to parks among different racial/ethnic groups (Carlson, Brooks, Brown, & Buchner, 2010), others have shown distinct differences in perceptions of park safety, with minority groups, including African Americans and Latinos, perceiving local parks as less safe (Boslaugh, Luke, Brownson, Naleid, & Kreuter, 2004; Tappe, Glanz, Sallis, Zhou, & Saelens, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Paradox of Parks in Low-Income Areas

Cohen

Han

Derose

et al. 2016

Environment and Behavior

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Concerns about safety and perceived threats have been considered responsible for lower use of parks in high poverty neighborhoods. To quantify the role of perceived threats on park use we systematically observed 48 parks and surveyed park users and household residents in low-income neighborhoods in the City of Los Angeles. Across all parks, the majority of both park users and local residents perceive parks as safe or very safe. We noted apparently homeless individuals during nearly half of all observations, but very few instances of fighting, intimidating groups, smoking and intoxication. The presence of homeless individuals was associated with higher numbers of park users, while the presence of intoxicated persons was associated with lower numbers. Overall the strongest predictors of increased park use were the presence of organized and supervised activities. Therefore, to increase park use, focusing resources on programming may be more fruitful than targeting perceived threats.

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“…, they may also have their own distinct influences on public open space-related physical activity. For example, Kaczynski et al (2014) found that regulating lower traffic speeds on streets surrounding public open space encourages public open space usage. Another study found perceived safety from crime, traffic and aesthetics in the surrounding neighbourhood was associated with greater public open spacerelated walking (Koohsari et al, 2013c).…”

Section: Quality Of Public Open Spacementioning

confidence: 98%

Public open space, physical activity, urban design and public health: Concepts, methods and research agenda

Koohsari¹,

Mavoa²,

Villanueva³

et al. 2015

Health & Place

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346

253

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Public open spaces such as parks and green spaces are key built environment elements within neighbourhoods for encouraging a variety of physical activity behaviours. Over the past decade, there has been a burgeoning number of active living research studies examining the influence of public open space on physical activity. However, the evidence shows mixed associations between different aspects of public open space (e.g., proximity, size, quality) and physical activity. These inconsistencies hinder the development of specific evidence-based guidelines for urban designers and policy-makers for (re)designing public open space to encourage physical activity. This paper aims to move this research agenda forward, by identifying key conceptual and methodological issues that may contribute to inconsistencies in research examining relations between public open space and physical activity.

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Association of Street Connectivity and Road Traffic Speed with Park Usage and Park-Based Physical Activity

Abstract: In addition to park proximity and the design of park features, ensuring direct and safe access to parks through street network design and traffic speed reduction strategies may be key to facilitating park-related physical activity.

Cited by 87 publications

References 40 publications

Longitudinal associations with changes in outdoor recreation area use for physical activity during a community-based intervention

Longitudinal associations with changes in outdoor recreation area use for physical activity during a community-based intervention

The Paradox of Parks in Low-Income Areas

Public open space, physical activity, urban design and public health: Concepts, methods and research agenda

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