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
Article
Bartels, Clare A., Lambert, Estelle V., Young, Marié E. M. and Kolbe-Alexander, Tracy. 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). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20032574
| Article Title | 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 |
|---|---|
| ERA Journal ID | 44293 |
| Article Category | Article |
| Authors | Bartels, Clare A., Lambert, Estelle V., Young, Marié E. M. and Kolbe-Alexander, Tracy |
| Journal Title | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |
| Journal Citation | 20 (3) |
| Article Number | 2574 |
| Number of Pages | 24 |
| Year | 2023 |
| Publisher | MDPI AG |
| Place of Publication | Switzerland |
| ISSN | 1660-4601 |
| 1661-7827 | |
| Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20032574 |
| Web Address (URL) | https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/3/2574 |
| 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. |
| Keywords | Cape Town; physical activity; parks; SOPARC; South Africa; low-middle income country |
| Contains Sensitive Content | Does not contain sensitive content |
| ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 330401. Community planning |
| 420603. Health promotion | |
| 420799. Sports science and exercise not elsewhere classified | |
| Byline Affiliations | University of Cape Town, South Africa |
| School of Health and Medical Sciences | |
| University of the Western Cape, South Africa | |
| Centre for Health Research |
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