Frequency of Neighborhood Park Use Is Associated With Physical Activity Among Adults in Four US Cities

Abstract

Background: Neighborhood parks are recognized as important spaces for facilitating physical activity (PA); however, it remains unclear how the frequency of park use is associated with PA. The purpose of this study was to examine associations between minutes of moderate to vigorous PA and multiple park use indicators: (1) use of a neighborhood park, (2) unique number of neighborhood parks used, and (3) frequency of neighborhood park use. Methods: Adults were surveyed from 4 US cities (Brooklyn, NY; Greenville County, SC; Raleigh, NC; and Seattle, WA). Using a map-based survey platform, participants indicated all neighborhood parks they used and the frequency of use in the past 30 days. Participants self-reported their weekly moderate to vigorous PA. Quantile regression was used to examine associations between PA and park use indicators. Results: Of all respondents (N = 360), 60% indicated visiting a neighborhood park in the past 30 days, with an average of about 13 total neighborhood park visits (SD = 17.5). Significant, positive associations were found between moderate to vigorous PA and both unique neighborhood park visits and total number of neighborhood parks visits. Conclusions: Frequency of park visitation is associated with PA among US adults. Ensuring equitable and safe access to neighborhood parks has the potential for population-level PA health benefits.

Interactions with Nature, Good for the Mind and Body: A Narrative Review

“…Intentionally interacting with nature is not only associated with health outcomes but also health behaviors, especially engagement in physical activity [ 49 , 113 , 207 , 219 , 243 , 244 , 245 , 246 ]. For example, greater frequency of intentional interactions has been associated with meeting physical activity guidelines [ 190 , 247 , 248 ], more steps taken per day [ 249 ], and engagement in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity [ 250 ]. Greater durations of intentional interactions with nature have been associated with engagement in physical activity [ 133 ] and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity [ 251 ].…”

A reliability study of the Park Life public participatory geographic information system survey

“…We identified 13 studies that used PPGIS methods that focused on urban green spaces (Bijker & Sijtsma, 2017; Brown et al, 2014, 2018; de Vries et al, 2013; Heikinheimo et al, 2020; Hughey et al, 2021; Korpilo et al, 2021; Latinopoulos, 2022; Pietrzyk‐Kaszyńska et al, 2017; Rall et al, 2019; Ramírez Aranda et al, 2021; Raymond et al, 2016; Schrammeijer et al, 2022). Nine studies explicitly asked participants to identify and map the green spaces they used.…”

“…Nine studies explicitly asked participants to identify and map the green spaces they used. However, the specific instructions and recall periods differed across all studies (for example, “visit most” [Schrammeijer et al, 2022], “spend the most time in” [Latinopoulos, 2022], “used in the past 30 days” [Hughey et al, 2021], “frequently visit” [Korpilo et al, 2021], “used for activities in the past two weeks,” “places where you spend time within green spaces” [Pietrzyk‐Kaszyńska et al, 2017], and “areas you enjoy using” [Raymond et al, 2016]). The remaining four studies were less explicit in their instructions, asking participants to map green spaces that were their “favourite” (Raymond et al, 2016), “meaningful” (Rall et al, 2019), or “attractive, valuable or important” (Bijker & Sijtsma, 2017; de Vries et al, 2013).…”

“…These differences make comparison across studies difficult. Except for a recent study by Hughey et al (2021), the use of PPGIS to measure park use and physical activity has, to date, not been deployed in public health‐focused research.…”

Nature-based Pathways to Health Promotion: The Value of Parks and Greenspace

“…Parks and greenspace improve physical health in many ways, often by creating environments that encourage active lifestyles and improve access to exercise opportunities [8]. Studies have shown that park availability and park use are positively correlated with physical activity [9]. Use of greenspace and outdoor recreation can also enhance cardiovascular health by influencing risk factors such as cholesterol levels, hypertension, BMI, and obesity [10].…”