How much neighborhood parks contribute to local residents' physical activity in the City of Los Angeles: A meta-analysis

Han, Bing; Cohen, Deborah A.; Derose, Kathryn Pitkin; Marsh, Terry; Williamson, Stephanie; Raaen, Laura

doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2014.08.033

Cited by 38 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…To maximize parks’ contribution to children’s total physical activity, future studies should build on these results to identify and evaluate social and environmental factors with strong potential to support walking and vigorous activity levels within parks. Parks are built environmental features with high relevance for children (13,30), and more studies are needed to learn how the children’s sex influences the effect of social and built environment correlates on park-based activity.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social and Environmental Factors Related to Boys’ and Girls’ Park-Based Physical Activity

Bocarro¹,

Floyd²,

Smith³

et al. 2015

Prev. Chronic Dis.

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IntroductionParks provide opportunities for physical activity for children. This study examined sex differences in correlates of park-based physical activity because differences may indicate that a standard environmental intervention to increase activity among children may not equally benefit boys and girls.MethodsThe System for Observation Play and Recreation in Communities was used to measure physical activity among 2,712 children and adolescents in 20 neighborhood parks in Durham, North Carolina, in 2007. Sedentary activity, walking, vigorous park activity, and energy expenditure were the primary outcome variables. Hierarchical logit regression models of physical activity were estimated separately for boys and girls.ResultsType of activity area and presence of other active children were positively associated with boys’ and girls’ physical activity, and presence of a parent was negatively associated. A significant interaction involving number of recreation facilities in combination with formal activities was positively associated with girls’ activity. A significant interaction involving formal park activity and young boys (aged 0–5 y) was negatively associated with park-based physical activity.ConclusionActivity area and social correlates of park-based physical activity were similar for boys and girls; findings for formal park programming, age, and number of facilities were mixed. Results show that girls’ physical activity was more strongly affected by social effects (eg, presence of other active children) whereas boys’ physical activity was more strongly influenced by the availability of park facilities. These results can inform park planning and design. Additional studies are necessary to clarify sex differences in correlates of park-based physical activity.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social and Environmental Factors Related to Boys’ and Girls’ Park-Based Physical Activity

Bocarro¹,

Floyd²,

Smith³

et al. 2015

Prev. Chronic Dis.

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“…A median of 12,400 people live within one mile of the typical park (Cohen, Han, Nagel, et al, 2016). There is wide variation in park use, both among parks and within a park (Han, Cohen, Derose, et al, 2014). Within the same park, peak hours (4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. during weekdays, late morning and early evening on weekends) can see 1.5 to four times more users than average, while nonbusy hours can attract only 5 to 10 percent of average use.…”

Section: Com Munit Y Parks and Their Contribution To Physical Activit Ymentioning

confidence: 99%

How Can Neighborhood Parks Be Used to Increase Physical Activity?

Cohen¹,

Leuschner²

2018

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Parks play an important role in providing venues for physical activity in urban areas but tend to be underutilized, especially for moderate to vigorous physical activity.• Research underscores the need to target efforts to increase park-based physical activity to specific populations.• There are numerous differences in how parks are used among different racial and ethnic groups, different genders, and different age groups.• Park facilities by themselves are not sufficient to attract users; many sit unused or underused, even after recent renovations. On-site marketing and supervised activities are the top two park features that encourage greater use of parks for physical activity. Marketing efforts are likely to be especially important in low-income neighborhoods.• The majority of park facilities are geared toward youths, while fewer facilities tend to target groups who are underrepresented among those using parks for moderate to vigorous physical activity-adults and especially seniors.• Investments to encourage physical activity will not be made without the support of local park managers.Neighborhood parks are financed on the local level, and local park managers are best positioned to understand the needs of their local populations.

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“…Most vigorous physical activity occurs outdoors, and this type of activity is essential for improving fitness 6. Moderate physical activity, too, is necessary to maintain fitness,7 and can also be enabled or encouraged by providing accessible local park spaces 8. Moreover, it has also been demonstrated that being outdoors or exercising in the presence of nature has additional mental health benefits 9…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Renovations of neighbourhood parks: long-term outcomes on physical activity

Cohen

Han

Isacoff

et al. 2019

J Epidemiol Community Health

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BackgroundNeighbourhood parks are places designed to support physical activity, but are often underutilised. Park renovations are major improvements to the quality of these spaces and usually attract more park users. This study assessed changes in the use of six San Francisco neighbourhood parks and park-based physical activity levels over a 6-year period, during which five of the six parks were renovated.MethodsWe used direct observation to assess park-based physical activity. We used a stepped-wedge study design at three time points in all six parks over 6 years (before all parks were renovated, after two parks were renovated and after an additional three were renovated) to evaluate the short-term and long-term effects of park renovations.ResultsLevels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and metabolic equivalent hours expended in the parks increased overall, most immediately after renovation. Age groups responded differently with the largest increases in park use and MVPA among adults and children under age 12, with no changes among teens and seniors.ConclusionsPark renovations attracted more users and increased park-based MVPA than non-renovated parks and sustained increases over time for adults and children, but not teens or seniors. Park renovations that consider and provide facilities that support varied levels of physical activity and cater to all age groups may foster increased park-based physical activity that can be sustained.

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How much neighborhood parks contribute to local residents' physical activity in the City of Los Angeles: A meta-analysis

Cited by 38 publications

References 21 publications

Social and Environmental Factors Related to Boys’ and Girls’ Park-Based Physical Activity

Social and Environmental Factors Related to Boys’ and Girls’ Park-Based Physical Activity

How Can Neighborhood Parks Be Used to Increase Physical Activity?

Renovations of neighbourhood parks: long-term outcomes on physical activity

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