390
There was a small but significant increase in senior green space users engaging in
moderate-vigorous physical activity at follow-up (1.6–5.1%; p < 0.001).
There was limited evidence regarding park-based interventions that only involved
physical change to the green space (2/9 studies showed a significant intervention
effect).
Two studies showed a positive outcome with increases in physical activity and
park usage (Cohen et al. 2009b; Veitch et al. 2012). Cohen et al. (2009b) investigated the impact of two interventions that saw improvements made to a skate park
and the green space surrounding a senior centre. Results showed a significant
increase in skate park use but substantially fewer users of the green space surrounding the senior centre. There was also a significant increase in the perception of
safety in both of the renovated green spaces (p < 0.001). An Australian study by
Veitch et al. (2012) showed significant increases in the number of park users and
number of people walking and being vigorously active after major park improvements
(i.e. fenced leash-free area for dogs, playground, walking track, barbeque area and
landscaping).
Seven studies showed no significant impact on physical activity, park usage or
general health for urban green space interventions involving change to the built
environment only (Cohen et al 2009a, 2012, 2014; Quigg et al 2011; BohnGoldhaum et al 2013; Peschardt and Stigsdotter 2014; Droomers et al 2015; Gubbels
et al 2016). Cohen et al. (2009a) showed that park use and physical activity declined
in parks that underwent major improvements including new/improved gyms, picnic
areas, walking paths, playgrounds, watering and landscaping. A study by Quigg
et al. (2011) investigated the impact of upgrading two community parks on children
aged 5–10 years. Upgrades that involved installation of new play equipment, seating, additional safety surfacing, and waste facilities produced no change in physical
activity levels among children.
Cohen et al. (2012) found that park usage increased by 11% compared to control
parks (not statistically significant) following the installation of Family Fitness zones
(i.e. outdoor gyms) in 12 parks.
The URBAN 40 study investigated the impact of changes in the quality or quantity of green space in different populations in 24 severely deprived neighbourhoods
in the Netherlands. The intervention involved a suite of park-based and greening
interventions (costing €5 million) to ameliorate problems with employment, education, housing, social cohesion and safety. The interventions involved: (i) provision
of new public parks (from pocket parks up to 250 acres; n = 9), and (ii) renovating
existing parks (n = 9). Renovations of existing parks involved: improving paths,
drainage, landscaping and maintenance; planting flower bulbs in front yards; constructing wall gardens; greening streets, and/or developing a greenway. Investments
were made in green space that could be utilised by residents for recreation (‘green
to be used’) and improvements in the green appearance of the neighbourhood
(‘green character’). Eighteen neighbourhoods improved their parks, in half of the
cases in combination with investments in the green character of the neighbourhood.
Nine of these neighbourhoods invested in new public parks. The other nine neighR. F. Hunter et al.
There was a small but significant increase in senior green space users engaging in
moderate-vigorous physical activity at follow-up (1.6–5.1%; p < 0.001).
There was limited evidence regarding park-based interventions that only involved
physical change to the green space (2/9 studies showed a significant intervention
effect).
Two studies showed a positive outcome with increases in physical activity and
park usage (Cohen et al. 2009b; Veitch et al. 2012). Cohen et al. (2009b) investigated the impact of two interventions that saw improvements made to a skate park
and the green space surrounding a senior centre. Results showed a significant
increase in skate park use but substantially fewer users of the green space surrounding the senior centre. There was also a significant increase in the perception of
safety in both of the renovated green spaces (p < 0.001). An Australian study by
Veitch et al. (2012) showed significant increases in the number of park users and
number of people walking and being vigorously active after major park improvements
(i.e. fenced leash-free area for dogs, playground, walking track, barbeque area and
landscaping).
Seven studies showed no significant impact on physical activity, park usage or
general health for urban green space interventions involving change to the built
environment only (Cohen et al 2009a, 2012, 2014; Quigg et al 2011; BohnGoldhaum et al 2013; Peschardt and Stigsdotter 2014; Droomers et al 2015; Gubbels
et al 2016). Cohen et al. (2009a) showed that park use and physical activity declined
in parks that underwent major improvements including new/improved gyms, picnic
areas, walking paths, playgrounds, watering and landscaping. A study by Quigg
et al. (2011) investigated the impact of upgrading two community parks on children
aged 5–10 years. Upgrades that involved installation of new play equipment, seating, additional safety surfacing, and waste facilities produced no change in physical
activity levels among children.
Cohen et al. (2012) found that park usage increased by 11% compared to control
parks (not statistically significant) following the installation of Family Fitness zones
(i.e. outdoor gyms) in 12 parks.
The URBAN 40 study investigated the impact of changes in the quality or quantity of green space in different populations in 24 severely deprived neighbourhoods
in the Netherlands. The intervention involved a suite of park-based and greening
interventions (costing €5 million) to ameliorate problems with employment, education, housing, social cohesion and safety. The interventions involved: (i) provision
of new public parks (from pocket parks up to 250 acres; n = 9), and (ii) renovating
existing parks (n = 9). Renovations of existing parks involved: improving paths,
drainage, landscaping and maintenance; planting flower bulbs in front yards; constructing wall gardens; greening streets, and/or developing a greenway. Investments
were made in green space that could be utilised by residents for recreation (‘green
to be used’) and improvements in the green appearance of the neighbourhood
(‘green character’). Eighteen neighbourhoods improved their parks, in half of the
cases in combination with investments in the green character of the neighbourhood.
Nine of these neighbourhoods invested in new public parks. The other nine neighR. F. Hunter et al.