Playgrounds and Physical Activity The National Study of Neighborhood Parks

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1 Waco, TX; Mountainview Park Albuquerque, NM, Quintessence Park Playgrounds and Physical Activity The National Study of Neighborhood Parks Deborah Cohen, Bing Han, Catherine Nagel, Peter Harnik, Stephanie Williamson, Laura Raaen, Terry Marsh, Kelly Evenson, Christine Vaughan Funded by NHLBI# R01HL114432

2 Objectives Describe design/features of playgrounds in US neighborhood parks (3-20 acres) Describe users of playground areas in parks and differences by low-high income areas and identify park use disparities Describe playground features associated with play area use

3 The National Study of Neighborhood Parks

4 Measuring Park Use: Mapping and Counting

5 Methods In the spring and summer of 2014 and 2016, trained observers visited parks, 12 visits, (4 days/per week, 3x/day) In 2016 we documented the presence of playground, 8 playground elements, and play area surfaces in 174 neighborhood parks Assessed the number of users by age group, gender, activity level, race/ethnicity Compared playgrounds by neighborhood SES

6 Park Use and Play Areas Average neighborhood park is 8.8 acres and sees about 1530 person-hour visits/ week 25% of all park use is in the play areas Play areas are the most common facility in neighborhood parks (89% of all parks 3-20 acres have them) The most common reason cited by park users for going to parks is to bring children (52%)

7 Female Age and Gender Disparities Male in Park Use Weekly park use Males 57% Females 43% Person hours % vs. 20% in pop % vs. 7% in pop Children Teenagers Adults Seniors Age groups 44% vs. 55% in pop % vs. 18% in pop 28 36

8 Gender Disparities in Park Use Among Children Girls (40%) Playground activities: 30% Sitting: 23% Standing: 11% Walking: 9% Picnic: 7% Baseball/softball: 4% Soccer: 4% Boys (60%) Baseball/softball: 21% Playground activities: 19% Sitting: 15% Standing: 10% Walking: 7% Soccer: 6% Basketball: 5%

9 Gender Disparities in Park Use Among Teens Girls (35%) Sitting: 26% Standing: 15% Walking: 14% Playground activities: 10% Picnic: 10% Swimming: 4% Baseball/softball: 4% Boys (65%) Basketball: 19% Sitting: 17% Baseball/softball: 11% Standing: 10% Walking: 9% Soccer: 7% Skating/skateboarding: 6%

10 Playground Users On average, playgrounds in a neighborhood park have about 5 users per hour, or 389 person-hour visits per week Play Area Users, By Gender Play Area Users, By Age Seniors 1% Male 43% Adults 30% Female 57% Teens 6% Children 63% Male Female Children Teens Adults Seniors

11 Gender Disparities in Playground Use Number of park users Male Female Children Teens Adults Seniors

12 Moderate-to-Vigorous Activity (MVPA) Boys in play areas engage in more MVPA than girls (44% vs 34%) No difference in % MVPA between high and low poverty neighborhoods Buffalo, NY: Hank Nowak

13 Dallas, TX Twin Falls What are the most common features of play areas? Gainsville, FL, Greentree Park Pittsburgh, PA, McGonigle Park

14 Play Area Surfaces Percentage of play areas with the surface mulch 42% rubber 42% pavement 35% sand 28% grass 18% dirt 15% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

15 Most common play area elements Percentage of parks with the facility Slide Climbing ladder 92% 91% Swings 83% Crawling tube Balance element 32% 31% Spinner 24% Sandbox Splash pad 13% 11% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

16 Playground Elements Number of Playground Element Types in Park Number of Parks Percent of Parks % % % % % % % % Total Parks 172

17 Playground elements associated with greater playground use 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 66% 83% 20% 10% 0% 12% Each additional element Spinners Splash pad

18 Differences in play areas in higher and lower income neighborhoods Across cities, high-poverty area parks more likely to have a splash pad. 87 parks > 13.5% households in poverty had 14 splash pads 85 parks < 13.5% households in poverty had 5 splash pads (p=.03) But no significant difference within cities Otherwise they have similar types and numbers of elements

19 Impact of Population Density and Poverty Controlling for other things in the model, every 10,000 more residents living in a 1-mile radius of a park is associated with roughly 10% more use in play areas. Controlling for other things in the model, every 10 percentage points increase in household poverty rates among residents living in a 1-mile radius of a park is associated with roughly 20% less use in play areas.

20 Park Use by Adults Who Bring Children to Park Frequency of park visits Duration of visit 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% 15% 31% 17% 16% 19% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 10% 36% 25% 22% 6% 0% < 30 min min 1-2 hours 2-3 hours >3 hours

21 Among adults who bring children to the neighborhood park: 80% say they like playground area best 19% say they like bathroom/ water fountains (vs. 11 % among adults who do not usually bring children to the park.) Jacksonville, FL Caleb Field

22 Summary Significant disparities by age and gender More females in play areas, who engage in less MVPA than males (more males in parks overall) Disparities in play area use associated with SES does not appear to stem from differential resources or facilities Play areas that are more elaborate are used more, especially with spinners and splash pads

23 Conclusion Play areas contribute significantly to park use Play area elements are important as a draw to parks and facilitate physical activity More research is needed to identify/create play areas that will optimize MVPA.