If you build it will they come? Park upgrades, park use and park-based physical activity in urban Cape Town, South Africa—The sun study
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Date
2023
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
MDPI
Abstract
The development and upgrade of recreational public spaces are key government strategies
to increase opportunities for physical activity (PA) and enhance social interaction and community
cohesion. This study aimed to evaluate differences in park use and park-based PA in recently
upgraded/developed parks (intervention, n = 4) against established parks (control, n = 4) and in
regional parks in high- and low-income settings (n = 2). Additionally, associations between target
area features, park use and PA were identified. Direct observation of park use and attributes was
conducted using the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) over four
months. Despite more park users in intervention parks (2519 vs. 1432), control park visitors were 48%
more likely to be engaged in PA (p < 0.001). Similarly, while high-income park users attracted more
visitors (2135 vs. 1111), they were 79% less likely to be engaged in any PA compared with low-income
park visitors. The likelihood of both use of and PA by gender and age differed by features. Active
recreation features in intervention parks attracted more users than the same features in control parks.
In this study, upgraded or newly developed parks attracted more visitors but not necessarily overall
greater levels of physical activity.
Description
Keywords
Recreational, Sport, Type 2 diabetes, Obesity, Health care management
Citation
Bartels, C. A. et al. (2023). If you build it will they come? Park upgrades, park use and park-based physical activity in urban Cape Town, South Africa—The sun study. International journal of environmental research and public health, 20(3), 2574. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20032574