BACKGROUND: The purpose was to examine 9 adult activity settings in 25 community parks to determine the most and least frequently used by gender, physical-activity (PA) intensity, and ethnicity. METHODS: All activity settings were identified, measured, and cataloged with GIS measures using the SOPARC direct observation instrument. Each setting was assessed 4 times a day for 7 consecutive days. RESULTS: Significantly more male adults were observed at the 25 parks (1598 versus 946; 63% versus 37%). Nine hundred fifty-eight (60%) male adults and 771 (81.1%) female adults used the paved trails. The second most heavily used activity setting for male adults was the softball and baseball fields (n = 239, 14.9%), and female adults chose to use the swimming pools (n = 45, 4.5%). Whites participated in considerably more vigorous PA than minorities. CONCLUSIONS: Paved trails were only in 5 of the 25 parks but were the most frequently used activity setting.
BACKGROUND: The purpose was to examine 9 adult activity settings in 25 community parks to determine the most and least frequently used by gender, physical-activity (PA) intensity, and ethnicity. METHODS: All activity settings were identified, measured, and cataloged with GIS measures using the SOPARC direct observation instrument. Each setting was assessed 4 times a day for 7 consecutive days. RESULTS: Significantly more male adults were observed at the 25 parks (1598 versus 946; 63% versus 37%). Nine hundred fifty-eight (60%) male adults and 771 (81.1%) female adults used the paved trails. The second most heavily used activity setting for male adults was the softball and baseball fields (n = 239, 14.9%), and female adults chose to use the swimming pools (n = 45, 4.5%). Whites participated in considerably more vigorous PA than minorities. CONCLUSIONS: Paved trails were only in 5 of the 25 parks but were the most frequently used activity setting.
Authors: Diana C Parra; Thomas L McKenzie; Isabela C Ribeiro; Adriano A Ferreira Hino; Mariah Dreisinger; Kathryn Coniglio; Marcia Munk; Ross C Brownson; Michael Pratt; Christine M Hoehner; Eduardo J Simoes Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2010-06-17 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Kelly R Evenson; Sydney A Jones; Katelyn M Holliday; Deborah A Cohen; Thomas L McKenzie Journal: Prev Med Date: 2016-03-02 Impact factor: 4.018
Authors: Linde Van Hecke; Jelle Van Cauwenberg; Peter Clarys; Delfien Van Dyck; Jenny Veitch; Benedicte Deforche Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2016-12-30 Impact factor: 3.390