Demographic variations in observed energy expenditure across park activity areas

Objective: Parks are important physical activity (PA) settings, but few studies have examined PA differences between park areas according to multiple user demographic characteristics. This study explored variations in adult/senior and child/teen PA intensity across park settings by gender, age, and race/ethnicity.

Methods: In July-August 2009, the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) was used in four parks in Kansas City, Missouri to record park users' PA behavior within specific park areas. A total of 8855 observations were recorded. ANCOVAs compared mean energy expenditure (EE) for various demographic groups across the five most-used park target areas for adults/seniors and children/teens.

Results: Among adults/seniors, all sub-samples exhibited higher EE on paved trails (0.086-0.093 kcal/kg/min) and tennis courts (0.086-0.089 kcal/kg/min), than in open spaces, playgrounds, or picnic shelters. Among children/teens, the child, White, and all child/teen sub-samples showed greater EE on playgrounds (0.088-0.089 kcal/kg/min) than in picnic shelters.

Conclusion: Park planning and design efforts should consider environmental and programming initiatives to increase intergenerational PA levels within park areas such as playgrounds, open spaces, and picnic shelters.