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School Parks as a Community Health Resource: Use of Joint-Use Parks by Children before and during COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

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  • Kevin Lanza

    (Michael and Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, School of Public Health in Austin, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Austin, TX 77030, USA)

  • Casey P. Durand

    (Michael and Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, Department of Health Promotion & Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health in Houston, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA)

  • Melody Alcazar

    (Parks and Recreation Department, Austin, Austin, TX 78704, USA)

  • Sierra Ehlers

    (Parks and Recreation Department, Austin, Austin, TX 78704, USA)

  • Kai Zhang

    (Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA)

  • Harold W. Kohl

    (Michael and Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, School of Public Health in Austin, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Austin, TX 77030, USA
    Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health in Austin, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Austin, TX 78701, USA
    Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA)

Abstract

Parks are settings for physical activity that can support the physical and mental health of children during the COVID-19 pandemic. We determined the impact of the pandemic on the use of joint-use parks outside of school hours by children in Austin, TX, United States. In autumn of 2019 and autumn of 2020 (i.e., before and during the COVID-19 pandemic), we used an adapted version of the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities to observe whether children aged 1–12 participated in physical activity (i.e., sedentary, light and moderate, vigorous) at three parks located at schools serving mostly economically disadvantaged Latinx families. In 2020, we also observed whether children maintained social distance and wore face coverings. Results of negative binomial regression modeling revealed the pandemic was associated with a 46% [95% CI: 20–63%] and 62% [95% CI: 39–76%] decrease in the number of girls and boys at parks, respectively, and a 42% [95% CI: 16–59%] and 60% [95% CI: 36–75%] decrease in the number of girls and boys engaging in physical activity, respectively ( p < 0.01). In total, 60.6% of girls and 73.6% of boys were not social distancing, and 91.8% of the time no children wore masks. Interventions should be considered to safely reintroduce children to parks for health benefits during pandemics.

Suggested Citation

  • Kevin Lanza & Casey P. Durand & Melody Alcazar & Sierra Ehlers & Kai Zhang & Harold W. Kohl, 2021. "School Parks as a Community Health Resource: Use of Joint-Use Parks by Children before and during COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-14, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:17:p:9237-:d:627258
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Xuyu Chen & Li Ran & Qing Liu & Qikai Hu & Xueying Du & Xiaodong Tan, 2020. "Hand Hygiene, Mask-Wearing Behaviors and Its Associated Factors during the COVID-19 Epidemic: A Cross-Sectional Study among Primary School Students in Wuhan, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-11, April.
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    3. Sahana Mathiarasan & Anke Hüls, 2021. "Impact of Environmental Injustice on Children’s Health—Interaction between Air Pollution and Socioeconomic Status," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-10, January.
    4. Naomi R Smart & Claire J Horwell & Trevor S Smart & Karen S Galea, 2020. "Assessment of the Wearability of Facemasks against Air Pollution in Primary School-Aged Children in London," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-13, June.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Carly E. Gray & Peter H. Kahn & Joshua J. Lawler & Pooja S. Tandon & Gregory N. Bratman & Sara P. Perrins & Yian Lin & Frances Boyens, 2023. "Time Spent Interacting with Nature Is Associated with Greater Well-Being for Girl Scouts Before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-20, June.
    3. Yunjin Wang & Cheryl Desha & Savindi Caldera & Tanja Beer, 2024. "Roles of Urban Green Spaces for Children in High-Density Metropolitan Areas during Pandemics: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-24, January.
    4. Yunlong Niu & Mastura Adam & Hazreena Hussein, 2022. "Connecting Urban Green Spaces with Children: A Scientometric Analysis Using CiteSpace," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-23, August.

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