Abstract
Aim
To examine the influence of redeveloping two parks based on consultation with local community and stakeholders on park visitation rates and activity levels of park users.
Subject and methods
Pre–post design. Two local neighbourhood parks located in low socioeconomic areas in the regional city of Bundaberg, Australia. Number of park visitors and park users’ activity levels were assessed using SOPARC pre (April–August 2013) and post (April–May 2014) park redevelopment. Park data were pooled for analysis. Pre–post differences in the park visitors and park user activity levels were examined overall and also by sex and age group (children, teen, adults, seniors) using a negative binomial generalised linear model (Stata MP 15.1, α = 0.05).
Results
Average daily visitors (baseline: 5.08; follow-up: 45.09; p < 0.001) and the number of child, teen, adult, and senior visitors increased from baseline to follow-up. The daily number of park users engaged in sedentary (baseline: 1.56; follow-up: 8.30; p < 0.001), moderate-intensity (baseline: 2.61; follow-up: 26.23; p < 0.001) and vigorous activity (baseline: 0.91; follow-up: 10.56; p < 0.001) also increased.
Conclusion
Redeveloping local parks, informed by community, local government and researcher stakeholder consultations increased the number of and activity levels of park users.
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Acknowledgements
The Active By Community Design (ABCD) Project was developed, implemented and evaluated as a collaboration between Wide Bay Medicare Local, Bundaberg Regional Council, CQUniversity Australia, University of Newcastle, Queensland Police Service, IMPACT Make Your Mark, the Australian Sports Commission’s Active After School Communities Program and residents from the neighbourhoods of Bundaberg and Bargara, Queensland. Australia. Funding was provided to Wide Bay Medicare Local by the Australian National Preventive Health Agency (ANPHA) in 2013 as part of the Disease Prevention and Health Promotion in Medicare Locals Program. MJD is supported by a Career Development Fellowship (APP1141606) from the National Health and Medical Research Council. The funding bodies had no role in the design, conceptualisation or reporting of the study.
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Duncan, M.J., Bell, T. & Austin, G. The effect of local neighbourhood park redevelopments on park visitations and user physical activity levels: a pe–post test evaluation. J Public Health (Berl.) 30, 2665–2671 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-020-01451-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-020-01451-4