Evaluating Park Use and Satisfaction: The Case of Trojan Park in St. Louis Missouri

<i>Background</i>: Providing public access to exercise and play is vital for health promotion across populations. We evaluated the use of and satisfaction at Trojan Park, a multigenerational playground with multiple activity areas and fitness zones in the city of Wellston in St. Louis Co...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Diana C. Parra, Alexandria Van Zandt, Peter Wang, Micah Goodman, Janardan Abhishek, Debra Haire-Joshu, Ross C. Brownson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2019-08-01
Series:International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/15/2798
Description
Summary:<i>Background</i>: Providing public access to exercise and play is vital for health promotion across populations. We evaluated the use of and satisfaction at Trojan Park, a multigenerational playground with multiple activity areas and fitness zones in the city of Wellston in St. Louis County, MO. <i>Methods</i>: We used video footage and the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC), which is a valid and reliable system for collecting data on physical activity in parks. We then performed intercept interviews to gather user information and measure overall satisfaction with the park. <i>Results</i>: The park received a variety of attendees across age groups, with children and middle-aged adults representing 41.1% and 50.3% of total park users, respectively. During the time observed, 47% of attendees were engaged in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), 22% were engaged in light physical activity (walking), and 30% were sedentary. We also observed participants spending the most time on the basketball court (38%), playground (28%), and picnic (17%) areas. Park users traveled a wide range of distances to access the park and the overwhelming majority reported a high level of satisfaction. <i>Conclusions</i>: Our findings demonstrate that multigenerational playgrounds with access to various activities and fitness zones may provide social and physical health benefits.
ISSN:1660-4601