385
Table 17.1 Summary of park-based interventions
Reference
Study design Population
Intervention
Outcome
Cohen et al.
(2009a)
Los Angeles,
CA, USA
Quasiexperiment:
controlled,
pre-post
design
Predominantly
Latino and
African-American
and low-income
neighbourhood
5 parks (mean 8 acres) underwent major improvements
including new/improved gyms, picnic areas, walking paths,
playgrounds, watering and landscaping (cost: >$1 m each)
Parks ranged from 3.4 to 16 acres (mean 8 acres) and served an
average of 67,000 people within a 1-mile radius. Parks
contained multi-purpose fields; playgrounds; gymnastics areas;
and picnic and lawn areas.
−ve: Overall park use and PA
declined in both intervention and
control parks
Cohen et al.
(2009b)
Los Angeles,
CA, USA
Quasiexperiment:
controlled,
pre-post
design
Youths and
seniors living
within 2 mile
radius of parks
2 parks (48–67 acres) underwent renovations: (1) improvements
to skate park surfaces only (cost $3.5 m)
(2) improvements to entrance, courtyard areas and gymnasium
of senior centre (cost $3.3 m)
−ve: 510% increase in skate park
use compared to 77% in
comparison skate park
Substantially fewer users of senior
centre
Quigg et al.
(2011)
Dunedin, New
Zealand
Quasiexperiment:
controlled,
pre-post
design
Children aged
5–10 years from
the local
community
2 community playgrounds: (1) playground had 10 new
components installed, including play equipment, seating,
additional safety surfacing, and waste facilities; (2) playground
had 2 new play equipment pieces installed
−ve: No statistically sig. difference
in total daily PA compared with
control.
Cohen et al.
(2012)
Los Angeles,
CA, USA
Quasiexperiment:
controlled,
pre-post
design
Residents within
1 mile radius of
intervention parks
12 parks (mean 14 acres) involving installation of Family
Fitness zones (outdoor gyms), 8 pieces of equipment at each
park (average cost $45,000 for each park),
mean park size 14.4 acres (range, 1–29 acres); served an
average of 40,964 individuals within 1-mile radius
−ve: Park usage increased by 11%
compared to control parks (not sig.)
Veitch et al.
(2012)
Victoria,
Australia
Quasiexperiment:
controlled,
pre-post
design
Most
disadvantaged
decile in state of
Victoria
1 park (size 25,200 m 2
): involving establishment of a fenced
leash-free area for dogs (12,800 m
2
); an all-abilities
playground; a 365 m walking track; BBQ area; landscaping;
fencing to prevent motor vehicle access to the park
+ve: Sig. increase from pre to
post-improvement in number of
park users for intervention park
(T1 = 235, T3 = 985) and number
of people walking (T1 = 155,
T3 = 369) and being vigorously
active (T1 = 38, T3 = 257)
(continued)
17 Environmental, Health and Equity Effects of Urban Green Space Interventions
Table 17.1 Summary of park-based interventions
Reference
Study design Population
Intervention
Outcome
Cohen et al.
(2009a)
Los Angeles,
CA, USA
Quasiexperiment:
controlled,
pre-post
design
Predominantly
Latino and
African-American
and low-income
neighbourhood
5 parks (mean 8 acres) underwent major improvements
including new/improved gyms, picnic areas, walking paths,
playgrounds, watering and landscaping (cost: >$1 m each)
Parks ranged from 3.4 to 16 acres (mean 8 acres) and served an
average of 67,000 people within a 1-mile radius. Parks
contained multi-purpose fields; playgrounds; gymnastics areas;
and picnic and lawn areas.
−ve: Overall park use and PA
declined in both intervention and
control parks
Cohen et al.
(2009b)
Los Angeles,
CA, USA
Quasiexperiment:
controlled,
pre-post
design
Youths and
seniors living
within 2 mile
radius of parks
2 parks (48–67 acres) underwent renovations: (1) improvements
to skate park surfaces only (cost $3.5 m)
(2) improvements to entrance, courtyard areas and gymnasium
of senior centre (cost $3.3 m)
−ve: 510% increase in skate park
use compared to 77% in
comparison skate park
Substantially fewer users of senior
centre
Quigg et al.
(2011)
Dunedin, New
Zealand
Quasiexperiment:
controlled,
pre-post
design
Children aged
5–10 years from
the local
community
2 community playgrounds: (1) playground had 10 new
components installed, including play equipment, seating,
additional safety surfacing, and waste facilities; (2) playground
had 2 new play equipment pieces installed
−ve: No statistically sig. difference
in total daily PA compared with
control.
Cohen et al.
(2012)
Los Angeles,
CA, USA
Quasiexperiment:
controlled,
pre-post
design
Residents within
1 mile radius of
intervention parks
12 parks (mean 14 acres) involving installation of Family
Fitness zones (outdoor gyms), 8 pieces of equipment at each
park (average cost $45,000 for each park),
mean park size 14.4 acres (range, 1–29 acres); served an
average of 40,964 individuals within 1-mile radius
−ve: Park usage increased by 11%
compared to control parks (not sig.)
Veitch et al.
(2012)
Victoria,
Australia
Quasiexperiment:
controlled,
pre-post
design
Most
disadvantaged
decile in state of
Victoria
1 park (size 25,200 m 2
): involving establishment of a fenced
leash-free area for dogs (12,800 m
2
); an all-abilities
playground; a 365 m walking track; BBQ area; landscaping;
fencing to prevent motor vehicle access to the park
+ve: Sig. increase from pre to
post-improvement in number of
park users for intervention park
(T1 = 235, T3 = 985) and number
of people walking (T1 = 155,
T3 = 369) and being vigorously
active (T1 = 38, T3 = 257)
(continued)
17 Environmental, Health and Equity Effects of Urban Green Space Interventions