Increasing Park-Based Physical Activity Through Community Engagement

Insufficient physical activity is a significant risk factor for obesity, overweight, cardiovascular disease, and stroke. Physical activity guidelines advise adults to engage in a weekly minimum of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity (e.g., brisk walking) or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity (e.g., jogging) along with muscle-strengthening activities at least 2 days each week, with adjustments made for older adults with chronic conditions and a low level of fitness. Only 20.8% of U.S. adults meet these physical activity guidelines. Adults may find it difficult to maintain an active lifestyle because of work hours, sedentary occupations, time spent using technology, and available mass transportation. Public parks may offer a setting and opportunity to increase physical activity in the community, since many exist throughout cities and towns. Park-based interventions can provide a venue for park visitors to engage in a variety of activities (i.e., walking, biking, strength training) to maintain a healthy lifestyle and reduce negative health risks.

Increasing Park-Based Physical Activity Through Community Engagement aims to increase the number of people using parks and their level of physical activity while using the parks. Grounded in community-based participatory research principles, the program takes place within parks that have an existing park advisory board (PAB) comprising local residents and a park director. The PAB and park director use data collected on park use to identify and implement programming and outreach interventions to foster park use and park-based physical activity. A manual guides the five key phases of the program:

-- Community engagement and planning. During this phase, the PAB and park staff participate in initial planning meetings to discuss project goals and timelines. Throughout the project, the PAB advises on data collection tools, helps interpret collected data, and designs and tracks park interventions.

-- Baseline park assessment. An assessment of the park is conducted using observations of park use and interviews of park users and local residents. Promotoras (Spanish- and English-speaking community health workers) observe the park and use the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) tool to note characteristics of the park (e.g., accessibility, usability, supervision, organization) and its users. Promotoras also administer a 44-item survey to park users and local residents to gather information on the characteristics, interests, and needs of park users and potential users.

-- Data interpretation and intervention development. After the baseline assessment, the park director and PAB meet several times to discuss the findings of the assessment and develop park-specific interventions.

-- Intervention implementation. Parks purchase materials for marketing and promotion and/or for programming (in the study reviewed for this summary, each park received $4,000). Marketing and promotional materials include signage; bulletin boards; and park-branded water bottles, bags, and key chains. Investing in park programming includes purchasing new sports equipment (e.g., basketballs, weights) and hiring instructors to teach physical activity classes. A marketing consultant works with the park director and PAB to target marketing efforts and conducts five training sessions on topics such as outreach, customer service, marketing special events and park programs, and using email and social media.

-- Follow-up park assessment. The follow-up assessment, which repeats the baseline data collection process, measures changes in park use following the interventions. Follow-up should be scheduled to occur at the same time of year as the baseline (e.g., early spring months) and to allow sufficient time for the interventions to take root (e.g., 1-2 years).

-- 2 days for training promotoras on data collection

-- Approximately 16-28 hours for 4-7 days of park observations by promotoras at baseline

-- 10 hours for five 2-hour monthly marketing sessions for park directors and PAB members

-- 1-2 years to implement the intervention

-- Approximately 16-28 hours for 4-7 days of park observations by promotoras at follow-up

The intervention targets park users and local community residents who have not used the park.

The intervention is suitable for use in a community setting.

Required resources to implement the program include the following:
-- Engaging Communities in Increasing Park-Based Physical Activity Implementation Guide

For costs associated with this program, please contact Terry Marsh. (See products page on the EBCCP website for developer contact information.)
 

A randomized trial conducted in collaboration between the Los Angeles City Department of Recreation and Parks and RAND Corporation tested the effects of the intervention. Of 183 neighborhood parks in the city of Los Angeles, 51 were selected to participate based on their diverse racial and ethnic population. During randomization, 17 parks were assigned to each of 3 study arms: a park director (PD)-- led intervention arm in which the PD did not have to consult with the PAB about the project, a combined PD/PAB-led intervention arm in which the PAB was involved in and came to consensus on all phases of the project, and a control arm. (Subsequently, 1 of the 17 PD/PAB parks decided not to participate.) Parks were randomized based on park size, number of facilities and programs offered, and the sociodemographic characteristics of the population within a 1-mile radius. Ten parks were located in neighborhoods with the highest percentage of Hispanics, 10 with the highest percentage of African Americans, 10 with the highest percentage of Asians, and 11 where the distribution of any one racial or ethnic group was not more than 50% of the population and was not already included in the previous listing of neighborhoods.

Parks were systematically observed four times a day for 7 days at baseline between April 28, 2008, and March 20, 2010, and at follow-up between April 27, 2010, and April 2, 2012. Park observations were conducted using the SOPARC method. During each observation, target areas within the park were coded to note organized activities and park user counts by observed gender, age group, race/ethnicity, and physical activity level. Levels of physical activity were translated to a measure of energy expenditure (METs), with 1.5 METs assigned for sedentary activity (e.g., sitting, standing), 3.0 METs assigned for moderate activity (e.g., walking), and 6.0 METs assigned for vigorous activity (e.g., running, jogging).

Data were analyzed in 2012 after completion of the follow-up assessments. At baseline, there were no significant differences between the study arms in observed characteristics. The outcome analysis examined changes in observed park use and physical activity. In a comparison of PD-only and PAB/PD groups, there were no significant differences between the two intervention arms. Therefore, during statistical analysis, the interventions were combined.

• From baseline to post-intervention, the number of park users increased among intervention parks and decreased among control parks (p=.035).

• From baseline to post-intervention, the MET-hours at parks increased in the intervention group and decreased in the control group (p=.006).