Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #117487

Karen G. Mumford, PhD, Environmental and Occupational Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road NE, RM 222A, Atlanta, GA 30307, 404-678-9042, kmumfor@sph.emory.edu, Howard Frumkin, MD, DrPH, The Rollins School of Public Health, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30322, Amy Helling, PhD, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University, 14 Marrietta St., NW, Atlanta, GA 30303, Steve French, PhD, Center for Geographical Information Systems, Georgia Institute of Technology, 276 5th Street NW, 2nd Floor, Atlanta, GA 30332, Harold Kohl, PhD, Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity, Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford highway, NE, MS K-48, Atlanta, GA 30341-3717, Candace Rutt, PhD, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity, 4770 Buford Highway, NE, MS/K-46, Atlanta, GA 30341-3717, and Lance A. Waller, PhD, Department of Biostatistics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30322.

Twelve parks in the Atlanta, Georgia metropolitan region were studied to assess the role of parks in facilitating physical activity. Selected study parks varied by park characteristics and by the characteristics of the surrounding neighborhoods. Between June and August, 2004, in-park surveys were conducted to collect demographic, address, and activity data on park users. Physical activity scans of park sub-areas were conducted to objectively record the types and intensities of physical activity of park users. Approximately 2,930 surveys and 12,700 physical activity assessments were completed. Across all parks, 54% of survey respondents were male, 59% were white, and 6% were of Hispanic ethnic origin. Most park users (61%) were observed at light or inactive levels of physical activity. A larger percentage of males (45%) engaged in vigorous and moderate levels of physical activity in study parks than females (27%), while a greater percentage of females were observed as inactive (36%) compared to males (20%). Those who reported receiving over 75% of their weekly physical activity within parks (18%), lived closer to parks, were more likely to walk to parks than drive, and were more frequent park users, while those receiving little or none of their weekly exercise in parks (35%) were infrequent users, lived further from the park, and typically drove. Findings from this study suggest that patterns of park use and physical activity are not only related to the characteristics of parks and park users, but also to park proximity and travel patterns.

Learning Objectives:

• Evaluate the methods used to describe patterns of park use and physical activity in parks.
• Assess variations in park use and physical activity associated with park user characteristics and within different parks.
• Discuss policy interventions to encourage physical activity in parks.

Keywords: Physical Activity, Environment

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.