Use of Accelerometry and Global Positioning System (GPS) to Describe Children's Park-Based Physical Activity Among Racial and Ethnic Minority Youth.

Parks are one component of the built environment to promote regular physical activity (PA) among youth. This study investigated differences in park-based PA among youth based on demographics and park features in racially or ethnically diverse communities. In 2017-2018, parks were selected in majority Asian (n = 3), Latino (n = 5), and Black (n = 4) neighborhoods in North Carolina (n = 6) and New York (n = 6).

Identifying multilevel predictors of behavioral outcomes like park use: A comparison of conditional and marginal modeling approaches.

This study compared marginal and conditional modeling approaches for identifying individual, park and neighborhood park use predictors. Data were derived from the ParkIndex study, which occurred in 128 block groups in Brooklyn (New York), Seattle (Washington), Raleigh (North Carolina), and Greenville (South Carolina). Survey respondents (n = 320) indicated parks within one half-mile of their block group used within the past month.

Association of composite park quality with park use in four diverse cities.

Park use has numerous health benefits. However, little research has investigated how the combination of park facilities, amenities, and conditions are related to park visitation. This study examined the association between a novel composite park quality metric and the use of specific parks, including variations by demographics.

A Natural Experiment: Results of Community-Designed Park Improvements on Park Use and Physical Activity.

The objective of this study was to assess if built environment changes to two suburban parks that involved extensive community engagement and physical activity programming increased park use and physical activity. This study employed a natural experiment evaluation design where community engagement informed the redesign of two neighborhood parks. Community engagement in the redesign of the parks was tracked as was the diversity of the partners on the steering committee and participation by community members in the process.

ParkIndex: Validation and application of a pragmatic measure of park access and use.

Composite metrics integrating park availability, features, and quality for a given address or neighborhood are lacking. The purposes of this study were to describe the validation, application, and demonstration of ParkIndex in four diverse communities. This study occurred in Fall 2018 in 128 census block groups within Seattle(WA), Brooklyn(NY), Raleigh(NC), and Greenville County(SC).

Healthy and unhealthy food environments are linked with neighbourhood socio-economic disadvantage: an innovative geospatial approach to understanding food access inequities.

Objective: This study examined the separate relationships between socio-economic disadvantage and the density of multiple types of food outlets, and relationships between socio-economic disadvantage and composite food environment indices.

Design: Cross-sectional data were analysed using geospatial kernel density techniques. Food outlet data included convenience stores, discount stores, fast-food and fast casual restaurants, and grocery stores.

Spatial clustering patterns and regional variations for food and physical activity environments across the United States.

This study examined spatial patterns of obesogenic environments for US counties. We mapped the geographic dispersion of food and physical activity (PA) environments, assessed spatial clustering, and identified food and PA environment differences across U.S.

ParkIndex: Using Key Informant Interviews to Inform the Development of a New Park Access Evaluation Tool.

The relationship between park availability, physical activity, and positive health outcomes has been documented across the globe. However, studying how people access parks and why they use the parks is difficult due to a lack of consensus with respect to measurement approaches and assessment of park environments. Establishing a parsimonious method and tool for quantifying both park availability and park quality represents a major step that could advance park and physical activity research and practice.

Associations between Walkability and Youth Obesity: Differences by Urbanicity.

Attributes of the built environment, such as neighborhood walkability, have been linked to increased physical activity and reduced obesity risk. This relationship, however, has primarily been documented in adults; less is known about neighborhood walkability and youth obesity, as limited prior research has produced mixed findings. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between neighborhood walkability and youth obesity, including differences by urbanicity.

Development and testing of a multicomponent obesogenic built environment measure for youth using kernel density estimations.

Innovative measures can advance the measurement and understanding of obesogenic environments on health outcomes. In a southeastern US county, public parks (n = 103) were scored using detailed audit data, while two databases of food stores and restaurants were compiled (n = 1112). Using kernel density estimations, separate raster (pixel) surfaces were created for each built environment component.

Spatial clustering patterns of child weight status in a southeastern US county.

Youth obesity is a major public health concern due to associated physical, social, and psychological health consequences. While rates and disparities of youth obesity levels are known, less research has explored spatial clustering patterns, associated correlates of spatial clustering, comparing patterns in urban and rural areas. Therefore, this study 1) examined spatial clustering of youth weight status, 2) investigated sociodemographic correlates of spatial clustering patterns, and 3) explored spatial patterns by level of urbanization.

Relationship of objective street quality attributes with youth physical activity: findings from the Healthy Communities Study.

Background: Residential environments may significantly influence youth physical activity (PA). However, few studies have examined detailed street quality attributes via observational audits in relation to context-specific PA among youth.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to explore whether the overall quality of street environments, as well as specific attributes, was associated with neighbourhood-based and street-based PA within a national sample of youth in the Healthy Communities Study.

'We need a safe, walkable way to connect our sisters and brothers': a qualitative study of opportunities and challenges for neighborhood-based physical activity among residents of low-income African-American communities.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore perceptions of the benefits of and influencing factors for neighborhood-based physical activity (PA), and elicit suggestions for increasing neighborhood-based PA among primarily Black residents living in lower income neighborhoods.

Design: Eight focus groups were conducted in low-income, predominantly Black neighborhoods (n = 8) in Greenville, SC during Spring 2014. Using a semi-structured focus group guide with open-ended questions, residents were asked to describe benefits of PA, neighborhood factors associated with PA, and ways to increase PA within their neighborhoods.

Examining Sociodemographic Differences in Playground Availability and Quality and Associations with Childhood Obesity.

Background: Parks and playgrounds are important environmental components for promoting healthy weight among children. The purposes of this study were to examine disparities in access to playgrounds and playground quality by multiple sociodemographic characteristics and the association of playground access and quality with youth weight status.

Methods: Objectively measured height and weight were collected for all third to fifth grade youth (n = 13,469) in a southeastern US County.

An Initiative to Facilitate Park Usage, Discovery, and Physical Activity Among Children and Adolescents in Greenville County, South Carolina, 2014.

Introduction: Parks are important settings for increasing population-level physical activity (PA). The objective of this study was to evaluate Park Hop, an incentivized scavenger-hunt-style intervention designed to influence park usage, discovery, park-based PA, and perceptions of parks among children and adolescents in Greenville County, South Carolina.

Methods: We used 2 data collection methods: matched preintervention and postintervention parent-completed surveys and in-park observations during 4 days near the midpoint of the intervention.

Pathways to Health: Association Between Trail Use, Weight Status, and Self-Rated Health Among Adults in Greenville County, South Carolina, 2014.

We examined associations between adults' use of a prominent rail-trail and their weight status and self-rated health. In 2014, a random-digit-dial survey of Greenville County, South Carolina, residents (n = 639) was used to collect data on trail use, height and weight, self-rated health, and demographics. Trail users were half as likely to be overweight or obese as trail nonusers (odds ratio [OR] = 0.

Green and lean: Is neighborhood park and playground availability associated with youth obesity? Variations by gender, socioeconomic status, and race/ethnicity.

Parks and park features are important for promoting physical activity and healthy weight, especially for low-income and racial/ethnic minority youth who have disproportionately high obesity rates. This study 1) examined associations between neighborhood park and playground availability and youth obesity, and 2) assessed whether these associations were moderated by youth race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status (SES). In 2013, objectively measured height and weight were collected for all 3rd-5th grade youth (n=13.

ParkIndex: Development of a standardized metric of park access for research and planning.

Objective: A lack of comprehensive and standardized metrics for measuring park exposure limits park-related research and health promotion efforts. This study aimed to develop and demonstrate an empirically-derived and spatially-represented index of park access (ParkIndex) that would allow researchers, planners, and citizens to evaluate the potential for park use for a given area.

Methods: Data used for developing ParkIndex were collected in 2010 in Kansas City, Missouri (KCMO).

Longitudinal associations with changes in outdoor recreation area use for physical activity during a community-based intervention.

Outdoor recreation areas (ORA) are important resources for physical activity (PA) and health promotion. While past research has identified correlates of ORA use, few studies have examined predictors of longitudinal changes in park- and trail-based PA in community settings. Using data from a 6-month community-based walking intervention study, we examined cross-sectional and longitudinal predictors of PA in ORAs.

Efforts of a Kansas foundation to increase physical activity and improve health by funding community trails, 2012.

Introduction: Trails are associated with increased physical activity; however, little is known about the process of building trails by various types of organizations. From 2005 through 2012 the Sunflower Foundation: Health Care for Kansans (Sunflower) funded multiple organizations to construct 70 trails of varying lengths and surfaces in municipalities, schools, and communities across Kansas. The purpose of this study was to assess the process of developing and implementing community trail projects across Kansas with funding from a public foundation.

Process evaluation of an intervention to increase child activity levels in afterschool programs.

Background: Identifying effective strategies in Afterschool programs (ASPs) to increase children's moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in the ASP setting is crucial. This study describes the process evaluation outcomes from an intervention to reduce child sedentary time and increase MVPA in ASPs.

Methods: Four ASPs participated in a quasi-experimental single-group pre-post study targeting child sedentary time and MVPA.

Examining the impact of 45 minutes of daily physical education on cognitive ability, fitness performance, and body composition of African American youth.

Object: Increased importance on academic achievement has resulted in many school districts focusing on improved academic performance leading to reductions in physical education time. The purpose was to examine the effects of 45 minutes of daily physical education on the cognitive ability, fitness performance and body composition of African American elementary and middle school youth.

Methods: Participants completing the informed consent in grades 2nd to 8th were included in the study.