Quality of public open spaces and recreational walking

Foster, S; Christian, H; Francis, J; Giles-Corti, B; Gunn, LD; Hooper, P; Owen, N; Sugiyama, T
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: We examined associations between specific public open space (POS) attributes and recreational walking to local POS. METHODS: Between October 2004 and December 2006, 1465 adults of the RESIDential Environments Project, conducted in Perth, Australia, reported whether they walk to a POS for recreation. For each participant, we identified all open spaces larger than 0.8 hectares within 1.6 kilometers from home. On the basis of field audit data, we created 3 scores (presence, count, size-weighted presence) for 19 specific open space attributes. RESULTS: With logistic regression analyses, we found that walking to a POS was associated with the presence of gardens, grassed areas, walking paths, water features, wildlife, amenities, dog-related facilities, and off-leash areas for dogs. It was also associated with the highest number of these attributes in a single open space, but not with the total number of attributes in all POSs within 1.6 kilometers of home. CONCLUSIONS: Building 1 high-quality local park may be more effective in promoting recreational walking than is providing many average-quality parks.
Journal AM J PUBLIC HEALTH
ISSN 0090-0036
Published 01 Dec 2015
Volume 105
Issue 12
Pages 2490-5
DOI 10.2105/AJPH.2015.302890
Type Journal Article
Sponsorship
NHMRC: 458688, 1061404, 1036350, 569940, 1003960, 1004900 ARC: LP0455453