The Physical Activity and Redesigned Community Spaces (PARCS) Study: Protocol of a natural experiment to investigate the impact of citywide park redesign and renovation. (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Huang, Terry; Wyka, Katarzyna; Ferris, Emily; Gardner, Jennifer; Evenson, Kelly; Tripathi, Devanshi; Soto, Gabriel; Cato, Matthew; Moon, Jon; Wagner, Julia; Dorn, Joan; Catellier, Diane; Thorpe, Lorna
• Is Part Of: BMC public health. Volume 16:Number 1(2016)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 12
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Parks -- Recreation -- Physical activity -- Mental health -- Natural experiment -- Built environment -- Planning; Public health -- Periodicals; 362.105
• DOI: 10.1186/s12889-016-3822-2
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-2458

Abstract

Abstract Background The built environment plays a critical role in promoting physical activity and health. The association between parks, as a key attribute of the built environment, and physical activity, however, remains inconclusive. This project leverages a natural experiment opportunity to assess the impact of the Community Parks Initiative (CPI), a citywide park redesign and renovation effort in New York City, on physical activity, park usage, psychosocial and mental health, and community wellbeing. Methods The project will use a longitudinal design with matched controls. Thirty intervention park neighborhoods are socio-demographically matched to 20 control park neighborhoods. The study will investigate whether improvements in physical activity, park usage, psychosocial and mental health, and community wellbeing are observed from baseline to 3 years post-renovation among residents in intervention vs. control neighborhoods. Discussion This study represents a rare opportunity to provide robust evidence to further our understanding of the complex relationship between parks and health. Findings will inform future investments in health-oriented urban design policies and offer evidence for addressing health disparities through built environment strategies.