RAND Research Topic: Urban Parks and Recreational Facilities 2021-05-14T18:23:21Z Copyright (c) 2021, The RAND Corporation RAND Corporation https://www.rand.org/topics/urban-parks-and-recreational-facilities.html Green Infrastructure in Los Angeles: An Olympian Feat Noah Johnson; Karishma Patel; Jarrett Catlin https://www.rand.org/blog/2020/02/green-infrastructure-in-los-angeles-an-olympian-feat.html 2020-02-11T14:52:00Z 2020-02-11T14:52:00Z Los Angeles has an opportunity to reinvent itself by harnessing the collective spirit of Olympics development, climate activism, and Measure W funding. No single project can address all LA's environmental needs, but many diverse projects could provide an opportunity for synergies and to create a new “city feel,” the way palm trees, traffic, and movie-touting billboards do now. How Can Neighborhood Parks Be Used to Increase Physical Activity? Deborah A. Cohen; Kristin J. Leuschner https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR2490.html 2018-05-07T06:00:00Z 2018-05-07T06:00:00Z RAND Corporation researchers have conducted multiple studies to examine park use and assess parks' role in promoting physical activity. This report describes their methods, findings, and recommendations. Effects of Park-Based Interventions on Health-Related Outcomes Kathryn Pitkin Derose; Deshira Wallace; Bing Han; Deborah A. Cohen https://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP68615.html 2021-04-28T05:45:00Z 2021-04-28T05:45:00Z Using adapted methods from the Community Guide, a systematic review (search period through September 2019) was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of park-based interventions among adults. Use and Non-Use Values of Auckland Council Amenities Hui Lu; Charlene Rohr; Peter Burge https://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP68363.html 2020-12-10T06:15:00Z 2020-12-10T06:15:00Z Auckland Council commissioned this study to quantify how much the public use and value local amenities. To fulfill the study needs, a survey was undertaken with Auckland residents to collect data on their usage of these amenities. Improved Street Walkability, Incivilities, and Esthetics Are Associated with Greater Park Use in Two Low-Income Neighborhoods Andrea Richardson; Bonnie Ghosh-Dastidar; Rebecca L. Collins; Gerald P. Hunter; Wendy M. Troxel; Natalie Colabianchi; Deborah A. Cohen; Tamara Dubowitz https://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP68358.html 2020-12-03T07:30:00Z 2020-12-03T07:30:00Z Improved walkability, incivilities, and aesthetics surrounding parks in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods were associated with greater park use and may help increase visits to underutilized parks. Recovery Planning for Natural Resources and Parks in Puerto Rico Susan A. Resetar; Abbie Tingstad; Joshua Mendelsohn; Miriam E. Marlier; Beth E. Lachman; Katherine Anania; Chandra Garber; David M. Adamson https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR2605.html 2020-09-30T06:30:00Z 2020-09-30T06:30:00Z The 2017 hurricanes harmed Puerto Rico's natural resources. Recommended courses of action, detailed in this report, would restore natural resources, manage solid waste, renew parks, and improve economic opportunities. Damage is characterized. The Mediating Role of Perceived Crime in Gender and Built Environment Associations with Park Use and Park-Based Physical Activity Among Park Users in High Poverty Neighborhoods Kathryn Pitkin Derose; Bing Han; Sujeong Park; Stephanie Williamson; Deborah A. Cohen https://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP68156.html 2020-04-30T08:00:00Z 2020-04-30T08:00:00Z This study conducted mediation analyses to examine the effects of gender and presence of park walking path on park use, participation in park programs, and park-based physical activity through the hypothesized mediator (perception of crime). Playground Features and Physical Activity in U.S. Neighborhood Parks Deborah A. Cohen; Bing Han; Stephanie Williamson; Catherine J. Nagel; Thomas L. McKenzie; Kelly R. Evenson; Peter Harnik https://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP68042.html 2019-12-12T12:15:00Z 2019-12-12T12:15:00Z This study of a nationally representative sample of neighborhood parks assessed the characteristics, design, and use of public playgrounds by all age groups. Reliability and Validity of Environmental Audits Using GigaPan Technology in Parks Devin S. Nelson; Taylor Nezich; Cathy L. Antonakos; Tamara Dubowitz; Philippa Clarke; Natalie Colabianchi https://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP67877.html 2019-06-10T09:00:00Z 2019-06-10T09:00:00Z GigaPan is a comprehensive technology that could provide solutions to several issues that arise with GSV and DO. GigaPan provides detailed images of parks, as well as acts as a quick method to capture images during temporal changes in the area. This study may provide insight into other technologies, such as some smartphone capacities, that may be used to measure the BE by taking similar panoramic images. How Can Parks Help Increase Physical Activity? Deborah A. Cohen; Kristin J. Leuschner https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR2490.html 2018-05-07T06:00:00Z 2018-05-07T06:00:00Z Public neighborhood parks play an important role in providing venues for physical activity in urban areas. But they tend to be underutilized, especially for moderate to vigorous exercise. Gender Disparities in Park Use and Physical Activity Among Residents of High-Poverty Neighborhoods in Los Angeles Kathryn Pitkin Derose; Bing Han; Stephanie Williamson; Deborah A. Cohen https://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP67445.html 2017-12-11T09:00:00Z 2017-12-11T09:00:00Z Despite similar proximity to parks and controlling for a range of individual, park- and neighborhood-level factors, women in high-poverty neighborhoods experience consistent disparities in park use and PA as compared with men. Promoting Physical Activity in High-Poverty Neighborhood Parks Deborah A. Cohen; Bing Han; Kathryn Pitkin Derose; Stephanie Williamson; Terry Marsh; Laura Raaen; Thomas L. McKenzie https://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP67230.html 2017-07-18T07:45:00Z 2017-07-18T07:45:00Z Modest efforts, such as free classes, to increase physical activity in high-poverty area parks attracted visitors during special programming but were not sufficient to increase overall park use. Using Systematic Observations to Understand Conditions That Promote Interracial Experiences in Neighbourhood Parks Amy Hillier; Bing Han; Theodore S. Eisenman; Kelly R. Evenson; Thomas L. McKenzie; Deborah A. Cohen https://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP67136.html 2017-05-16T13:00:00Z 2017-05-16T13:00:00Z We analysed observations from 31 neighbourhood parks, with each park mapped into smaller target areas for study, across five US cities generated using the System for Observing Play and Recreation in the Community (SOPARC). City of Los Angeles Neighborhood Parks Deborah A. Cohen; Kathryn Pitkin Derose; Bing Han; Stephanie Williamson; Terry Marsh; Laura Raaen https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR1573.html 2016-11-01T10:00:00Z 2016-11-01T10:00:00Z This report summarizes more than a decade of research on how well neighborhood parks in Los Angeles support physical activity. Between 2003 and 2015, researchers observed 83 parks and fielded nearly 28,000 surveys of park users and local residents. The Prevalence and Use of Walking Loops in Neighborhood Parks Deborah A. Cohen; Bing Han; Kelly R. Evenson; Catherine J. Nagel; Thomas L. McKenzie; Terry Marsh; Stephanie Williamson; Peter Harnik https://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP66637.html 2016-09-22T07:00:00Z 2016-09-22T07:00:00Z Walking loops in public parks appear to not only boost park use but also encourage higher levels of moderate-to-vigorous park-based physical activity, especially among seniors. Validation of a New Counter for Direct Observation of Physical Activity in Parks Bing Han; Deborah A. Cohen; Kathryn Pitkin Derose; Terry Marsh; Stephanie Williamson; Laura Raaen https://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP66502.html 2016-06-06T11:00:00Z 2016-06-06T11:00:00Z This assessed the reliability of a tool (a 12-button counter) used to assess physical activity in parks. First National Survey of Neighborhood Parks Shows Low Use by Adults, Seniors and Females RAND Corporation https://www.rand.org/news/press/2016/05/18.html 2016-05-18T00:01:00Z 2016-05-18T00:01:00Z Although it is critically important for adults and seniors to engage in physical activity, most neighborhood parks have few programmed activities targeted to those groups. Adding enhancements such as walking loops could attract more visitors. First National Survey of Neighborhood Parks Shows Low Use by Adults, Seniors and Females Deborah A. Cohen; Bing Han; Catherine J. Nagel; Peter Harnik; Thomas L. McKenzie; Kelly R. Evenson; Terry Marsh; Stephanie Williamson; Christine Anne Vaughan; Sweatha Katta https://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP66493.html 2016-05-18T00:01:00Z 2016-05-18T00:01:00Z Although it is critically important for adults and seniors to engage in physical activity, most neighborhood parks have few programmed activities targeted to those groups. Adding enhancements such as walking loops could attract more visitors. Are Food Deserts Also Play Deserts? Deborah A. Cohen; Gerald P. Hunter; Stephanie Williamson; Tamara Dubowitz https://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP66430.html 2016-04-19T10:30:00Z 2016-04-19T10:30:00Z Parks in two food desert neighborhoods in Pittsburgh could also be called play deserts: local residents didn't use them as much as residents in other areas of the city used their nearby parks. Park Characteristics, Use, and Physical Activity Kelly R. Evenson; Sydney A. Jones; Katelyn M. Holliday; Deborah A. Cohen; Thomas L. McKenzie https://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP66402.html 2016-03-29T14:00:00Z 2016-03-29T14:00:00Z A literature review of studies using the SOPARC tool to observe public park use finds that, generally, men use parks more than women and younger users tend to be more active than older users.