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The Effectiveness of Interventions to Increase Participation and Physical Activities in Parks: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Author

Listed:
  • Ying Xu

    (School of Economics and Public Policy, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia)

  • Sarah Ann Wheeler

    (School of Economics and Public Policy, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia)

  • Alec Zuo

    (School of Economics and Public Policy, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
    The Centre for Global Food and Resources, School of Economics and Public Policy, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia)

Abstract

Although a variety of interventions in many countries have been developed to increase park use and to improve public participation in physical activities in parks, knowledge of their overall effectiveness is lacking. A systematic literature review was undertaken to further understand the effectiveness of various interventions that aim to increase the use of parks and physical activity participation in parks. This systematic review utilized the standard Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis procedure, and of the 3801 studies identified, 60 studies were reviewed in-depth, with 44 studies assessed for quality of evidence and risk of bias. Most of the 44 reviewed studies found that various interventions had positive impacts on park use and physical activity participation in parks. Interventions were classified into both demand and supply, with more studies focusing on the supply side. The strongest evidence on the effectiveness of various interventions was found for park prescriptions; safe access to parks; playgrounds, and park renovation and renewal/design. However, the assessment of quality of evidence and risk of bias showed that most studies suffer from potential biases and evidence weaknesses, suggesting a need to further establish external validity.

Suggested Citation

  • Ying Xu & Sarah Ann Wheeler & Alec Zuo, 2022. "The Effectiveness of Interventions to Increase Participation and Physical Activities in Parks: A Systematic Review of the Literature," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-20, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:19:p:12590-:d:931884
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mojgan Sami & Megan Smith & Oladele A. Ogunseitan, 2020. "Placement of Outdoor Exercise Equipment and Physical Activity: A Quasi-Experimental Study in Two Parks in Southern California," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-11, April.
    2. Cristina Gagliardi & Karl Pillemer & Elena Gambella & Flavia Piccinini & Paolo Fabbietti, 2020. "Benefits for Older People Engaged in Environmental Volunteering and Socializing Activities in City Parks: Preliminary Results of a Program in Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-12, May.
    3. Chanyul Park & Hwasung Song, 2018. "Visitors’ Perceived Place Value and the Willingness to Pay in an Urban Lake Park," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-15, November.
    4. Bik C. Chow & Thomas L. McKenzie & Cindy H. P. Sit, 2016. "Public Parks in Hong Kong: Characteristics of Physical Activity Areas and Their Users," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-16, June.
    5. Diana C. Parra & Alexandria Van Zandt & Peter Wang & Micah Goodman & Janardan Abhishek & Debra Haire-Joshu & Ross C. Brownson, 2019. "Evaluating Park Use and Satisfaction: The Case of Trojan Park in St. Louis Missouri," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-13, August.
    6. Nooshin Razani & Saam Morshed & Michael A Kohn & Nancy M Wells & Doug Thompson & Maoya Alqassari & Amaka Agodi & George W Rutherford, 2018. "Effect of park prescriptions with and without group visits to parks on stress reduction in low-income parents: SHINE randomized trial," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(2), pages 1-17, February.
    7. Pawlowski, Charlotte Skau & Schmidt, Tanja & Nielsen, Jonas Vestergaard & Troelsen, Jens & Schipperijn, Jasper, 2019. "Will the children use it?—A RE-AIM evaluation of a local public open space intervention involving children from a deprived neighbourhood," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    8. Eve Burrows & Margaret O’Mahony & Dermot Geraghty, 2018. "How Urban Parks Offer Opportunities for Physical Activity in Dublin, Ireland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-11, April.
    9. Buller, D.B. & English, D.R. & Buller, M.K. & Simmons, J. & Chamberlain, J.A. & Wakefield, M. & Dobbinson, S., 2017. "Shade sails and passive recreation in public parks of Melbourne and Denver: A randomized intervention," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 107(12), pages 1869-1875.
    10. Nooshin Razani & Nancy K. Hills & Doug Thompson & George W. Rutherford, 2020. "The Association of Knowledge, Attitudes and Access with Park Use before and after a Park-Prescription Intervention for Low-Income Families in the U.S," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-13, January.
    11. Judy Y. Ou & Jonathan I. Levy & Junenette L. Peters & Roseann Bongiovanni & Jovanna Garcia-Soto & Rafael Medina & Madeleine K. Scammell, 2016. "A Walk in the Park: The Influence of Urban Parks and Community Violence on Physical Activity in Chelsea, MA," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, January.
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