http://www.ced.berkeley.edu/downloads/research/LUP.parks.pdf

Urban green space, public health, and environmental justice: The challenge of making cities ‘just green enough’

https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140-6736(08)61689-X.pdf

Effect of exposure to natural environment on health inequalities: an observational population study

Effect of exposure to natural environment on health inequalities : an observational population study. Commentary

https://nacto.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Infrastructure-Programs-and-Policies-to-Increase-Bicycling-An-International-Review.pdf

Infrastructure, programs, and policies to increase bicycling: An international review

Measuring the Built Environment for Physical Activity: State of the Science

Objectives. Parks provide places for people to experience nature, engage in physical activity, and relax. We studied how residents in low-income, minority communities use public, urban neighborhood parks and how parks contribute to physical activity.Methods. In 8 public parks, we used direct observation to document the number, gender, race/ethnicity, age group, and activity level of park users 4 times per day, 7 days per week. We also interviewed 713 park users and 605 area residents living within 2 miles of each park.Results. On average, over 2000 individuals were counted in each park, and about two thirds were sedentary when observed. More males than females used the parks, and males were twice as likely to be vigorously active. Interviewees identified the park as the most common place they exercised. Both park use and exercise levels of individuals were predicted by proximity of their residence to the park.Conclusions. Public parks are critical resources for physical activity in minority communities. B...

Contribution of Public Parks to Physical Activity

Background: New tools are needed to examine physical activity and the contexts in which it occurs. Community parks contribute to physical activity, but measuring activity and associated variables in them is challenging because area contexts change and the numbers and characteristics of users are highly variable. Methods: We developed SOPARC (System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities) and tested its use by observing 16,244 individuals in 165 park areas. Reliabilities included 472 simultaneous measures by independent observers. Results: Correlations between observers on number of area participants was 0.99 for female and male park users. Reliabilities (i.e., percent agreement) for age (89%, females; 85%, males), race/ethnic (80%, females; 82%, males), and activity level (80%, females; 88%, males) groupings met acceptable criteria. Reliabilities for area contexts (i.e., usable, accessible, supervised, organized, equipped) exceeded 94%. Conclusions: SOPARC is a reliable and feasible instrument for assessing physical activity and associated contextual data in community settings.

/pdf/system-for-observing-play-and-recreation-in-communities-egeoby598q.pdf

System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC): Reliability and Feasibility Measures

Parks and physical activity: why are some parks used more than others?

Impact and cost-effectiveness of family Fitness Zones: A natural experiment in urban public parks

https://activelivingresearch.org/files/Concurrent_PolicyEval_Cohen.pdf

Stephanie Williamson

Papers

Contribution of Public Parks to Physical Activity

System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC): Reliability and Feasibility Measures

Parks and physical activity: why are some parks used more than others?

Impact and cost-effectiveness of family Fitness Zones: A natural experiment in urban public parks

Effects of Park Improvements on Park Use and Physical Activity: Policy and Programming Implications