![]() However, more research measuring the impact of park improvements in diverse parks and neighbourhoods is needed. All three studies that examined combined approaches of changes in the built environment with physical activity programs showed a positive effect. Natural experiments have been identified as a priority for investigating causal associations between the built environment and physical activity, but are conducted infrequently.Ī recent review of natural experiments that evaluated the impact of environmental change in urban green space on visitation and physical activity indicated that 44% of studies (4 of 9) that examined interventions focused only on the built environment showed a positive effect for increasing park visitation and physical activity. Natural experiments, in contrast, involve researchers evaluating the effectiveness of ‘real world’ changes in the physical environment, social environment and/or political world that have not been influenced by the researcher, and are therefore significantly less costly. Testing the impact of park refurbishment or renewal via investigator-led experimental studies is likely to be costly and may not be feasible. Yet there is very little evidence internationally about whether park refurbishment or renewal increases park visitation and park-based physical activity. Parks receive significant financial investment from government for modifications and maintenance, and these changes are typically long-lasting. Other co-benefits such as physical health, mental health, social benefits, safety/injury prevention, and environmental sustainability have also been identified. Previous research has shown park proximity, size, quality and facilities to be associated with visitation and park-based physical activity across the lifespan. Given significant forecasted urban population growth and increases in mid and high density living, the availability of high quality parks is critical for future generations. Attracting residents to visit and to be physically active in parks is therefore an important public health goal. Public open spaces including parks are important settings that provide opportunities for physical activity across diverse population groups. The potential of the built environment to influence physical activity is well recognised. Physical inactivity is a major contributor to the burden of chronic disease. These findings confirm that a well-designed play-scape installation has the potential to increase park visitation and encourage visitors to be physically active. The remaining results from the intercept survey, objective monitors and resident surveys showed no significant differences in visitation between the two parks. The intercept survey data showed an increased odds of children’s regular visitation to the intervention park at T2 (OR = 2.67, 95% CI = 1.08, 6.64), compared with T1, relative to the control park. Similarly, there was a significant interaction between time and park with regard to the number of visitors observed engaging in MVPA in the play-scape/playground areas. The relative increases in visitation at the intervention park play-scape compared with the control park playground were highly statistically significant from both T1 to T2 (IRR = 18.12, 95% CI = 5.51–59.59) and T1 to T3 (IRR = 15.05, 95% CI = 4.61–49.16). The intervention park had a 119% increase in counts of visitors observed engaging in MVPA from T1 to T2 (IRR = 2.19, 95% CI = 1.14–4.20), and a 128% increase from T1 to T3 (IRR = 2.28, 95% CI = 1.19–4.38), relative to the control park. The observational data showed a 176% increase in park visitor counts from T1 to T2 (Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) = 2.76, 95% CI = 1.04–7.33), at the intervention park relative to the control park. Cross-sectional surveys were conducted with local residents at T1 and T3. At each time point, measures included: observations of park visitors using the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities on four weekdays and four weekend days, objective monitors to record usage of the walking paths and the number of cars entering the park and intercept surveys with adult park visitors. At both parks, park visitation and physical activity were assessed before (T1, 2013) and after the intervention at 12 (T2, 2014) and 24 months (T3, 2015). Natural experiment study (intervention vs control). This study examined the impact of the installation of a play-scape in a large metropolitan park in Melbourne, Australia. Yet there is very little evidence about whether playground refurbishment achieves these objectives. Designing parks that optimise visitation and support visitors to be active is important for public health. ![]()
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