Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Splashpads, Swings, and Shade

Parents’ Preferences for Neighbourhood Parks

  • Published:
Canadian Journal of Public Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Physical activity is a modifiable behaviour that can help curtail the increasing worldwide problem of childhood obesity. Appropriate recreational opportunities, including neighbourhood parks, are particularly important for promoting physical activity among children. Because children’s use of parks is mainly under the influence of their parents, understanding parents’ preferences is essential for creating the most inviting and usable park space to facilitate children’s physical activity.

Methods

Eighty-two intercept interviews were conducted with a heterogeneous sample of parents/guardians watching their children at neighbourhood parks in London, Ontario. Parents/guardians were asked questions about how often they frequent the park, whether it is the closest to their residence, and their likes/dislikes for the park. Strategies to ensure trustworthiness of the data were employed.

Results

Interviewees attended their park of choice between 1–7 times per week with the average being 2.5 times per week. Only 49% of respondents frequented the park closest to their starting destination (home or daycare facility), and the majority travelled more than 4 km to get to the park. For those who chose to travel a significant distance to attend their park of choice, park location was not as important as the amenities they desired. Parents’ main reasons for choosing parks were: water attractions, shade, swings, and cleanliness.

Conclusions

The current study provides useful insights on park use with potentially important implications for increasing physical activity among children. Incorporating parents’ preferences into strategies for creating or modifying city parks will help to ensure that limited public resources are being targeted most effectively in support of children’s physical activity.

Résumé

Contexte

L’activité physique est un comportement modifiable qui pourrait mettre un frein au problème mondial de l’obésité de l’enfance. Des installations de loisirs appropriées, y compris des parcs de quartier, sont particulièrement importantes pour promouvoir l’activité physique chez les enfants. Comme ce sont surtout les parents qui déterminent la fréquentation des parcs par les enfants, il est essentiel de comprendre les préférences des parents afin de créer les parcs les plus invitants et les plus accueillants possibles et faciliter ainsi l’activité physique des enfants.

Méthode

Quatre-vingt deux entretiens sur place ont été menés auprès d’un échantillon hétérogène de parents et autres responsables qui surveillaient leurs enfants dans des parcs de quartier de London, en Ontario. Les parents et responsables ont répondu à des questions sur la fréquence de leurs visites au parc, la distance entre le parc et leur domicile, et ce qu’ils aimaient ou n’aiment pas dans le parc. Nous avons ensuite appliqué des méthodes de vérification de la fiabilité des données.

Résultats

Les répondants fréquentaient leur parc préféré entre 1 et 7 fois par semaine; la moyenne était de 2,5 fois par semaine. Seulement 49 % des répondants fréquentaient le parc le plus proche de leur point de départ (domicile ou garderie); la majorité faisaient un trajet de plus de 4 km pour s’y rendre. Pour ceux et celles qui faisaient un long trajet, l’emplacement du parc était moins important que la présence de certains équipements. Les principales raisons pour lesquelles les parents choisissaient certains parcs étaient: les jeux d’eau, l’ombre, les balançoires et la propreté des lieux.

Conclusion

Cette étude donne des aperçus précieux sur la fréquentation des parcs qui pourraient avoir des conséquences importantes pour l’augmentation de l’activité physique des enfants. En tenant compte des préférences des parents dans les stratégies de création ou de réaménagement des parcs locaux, on peut affecter les ressources publiques limitées en maximisant leur impact sur l’activité physique des enfants.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Deckelbaum RJ, Williams, CL. Childhood obesity: The health issue. Obes Res 2001;9:S239-S243.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Obesity and Overweight. World Health Organization Web Site. Available online at: http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/publications/facts/obesity/en/print.html (Accessed November 7, 2005).

  3. Childhood Obesity in the United States: Facts and Figures. Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. 2004. Available online at: http://www.iom.edu/Object.File/Master/22/606/0.pdf (Accessed November 7, 2005).

  4. Tremblay MS, Willms, JD. Secular trends in the body mass index of Canadian children. CMAJ 2000;163(11):1429–33.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Tremblay MS, Katzmarzyk PT, Willms, JD. Temporal trends in overweight and obesity in Canada, 1981–1996. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2002;26:538–43.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Figueroa-Colon R, Franklin FA, Lee JY, Aldridge R, Alexander L. Prevalence of obesity with increased blood pressure in elementary schoolaged children. South Med J 1997;90:806–13.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Figueroa-Munoz JI, Chinn S, Rona, RJ. Association between obesity and asthma in 4–11 year old children in the, UK. Thorax 2001;56:133–37.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. Fagot-Campagna A. Emergence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in children: Epidemiological evidence. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab 2000;13Suppl 6:1395–402.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Reilly JJ, Methven E, McDowell ZC, Hacking B, Alexander D, Stewart L, et al. Health consequences of obesity. Arch Dis Child 2003;88:748–52.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Dietz, WH. Health consequences of obesity in youth: Childhood predictors of adult disease. Pediatrics 1998;101:518–25.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Williams, CL. Can childhood obesity be prevented? Bendich A, Deckelbaum RJ (Eds.), Primary and Secondary Preventive Nutrition. Totowa, NJ: Humana Press, 2001;185–204.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  12. Birmingham CL, Muller JL, Palepu A, Spinelli JJ, Anis, AH. The cost of obesity in Canada. CMAJ 1999;160:483–88.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. National Population Health Survey — Obesity: A growing issue. The Daily — Statistics Canada. April 7, 2005. Available online at: https://doi.org/www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/050407/ d050407a.htm (Accessed: November 7, 2005).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS). Healthy active living for children and youth. J Paediatr Child Health 2002;7:339–45.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Le Petit C. How Many Obese Canadians Can We Expect by 2010 and 2020? Statistics Canada, 2005. Presented at the 96th Annual Canadian Public Health Association Conference.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  16. Frumkin H, Frank L, Jackson R. Urban Sprawl and Public Health: Designing, Planning, and Building for Healthy Communities. Washington, DC: Island Press, 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Estabrooks PA, Lee RE, Gyurcsik, NC. Resources for physical activity participation: Does availability and accessibility differ by neighbourhood socioeconomic status? Ann Behav Med 2003;25(2):100–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Giles-Corti B, Donovan, RJ. Socioeconomic status differences in recreational physical activity levels and real and perceived access to a supportive physical environment. Prev Med 2002;35(6):610–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Hill JO, Peters, JC. Environmental contributions to the obesity epidemic. Science 1998;280:1371–74.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. An ounce of prevention or a ton of trouble — Is there an epidemic of obesity in children? Ontario Medical Association Position Paper. October 2005.

  21. Sallis JF, Johnson MF, Calfas KJ, Caparosa S, Nichols, JF. Assessing perceived environmental variables that may influence physical activity. Res Q Exerc Sport 1997;68:345–51.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Huston SL, Evenson KR, Bors P, Gizlice Z. Neighbourhood environment, access to places for activity, and leisure-time physical activity in a diverse North Carolina population. Am J Health Promot 2003;18(1):58–69.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. French SA, Story M, Jeffery, RW. Environmental influences on eating and physical activity. Annu Rev Public Health 2001;22:309–35.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Frank LD, Engelke P. Multiple impacts of the built environment on public health: Walkable places and the exposure to air pollution. Int Reg Sci Rev 2005;28(2):193–216.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Dearry A. Impacts of our built environment on public health. Environ Health Perspect 2005;112(11):A600–A601.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Evans, GW. The built environment and mental health. J Urban Health 2003;80:536–55.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  27. Weich S, Blanchard M, Prince M, Burton E, Erens B, Sproston K. Mental health and the built environment: Cross-sectional survey of individual and contextual risk factors for depression. Br J Psychiatry 2002;180:428–33.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Wakefield J. Fighting obesity through the built environment. Environ Health Perspect 2004;112(11):A616–A618.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  29. Li F, Fisher KJ, Brownson RC, Bosworth M. Multilevel modeling of built environment characteristics related to neighbourhood walking activity in older adults. J Epidemiol Community Health 2005;59:558–64.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  30. Saelens BE, Sallis JF, Black JB, Chen D. Neighbourhood-based differences in physical activity: An environment scale evaluation. Am J Public Health 2003;93(9):1552–58.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  31. Sallis JF, Prochaska JJ, Taylor, WC. A review of correlates of physical activity of children and adolescents. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2000;32(5):963–75.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Epstein LH, Goldfield G. Physical activity in the treatment of childhood overweight and obesity: Current evidence and research issues. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1999;31:553–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Sothern, MS. Obesity prevention in children: Physical activity and nutrition. Nutrition 2004;20:704–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Hume C, Salmon J, Ball K. Children’s perceptions of their home and neighbourhood environments, and their association with objectively measured physical activity: A qualitative and quantitative study. Health Educ Res 2004;20(1):1–13.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Trost SG, Sirard JR, Dowda M, Pfeiffer KA, Pate, RR. Physical activity and overweight and nonoverweight preschool children. Int J Obes 2003;27:834–39.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Ritchie LD, Ivey S, Masch M, Woodward G, Ikeda J, Crawford P. Pediatric Overweight: A Review of the Literature. The Centre for Weight and Health, University of California. Berkley, CA: 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute. 2000 Physical activity monitor. Available online at: http://www.cflri.ca/cflri/pa/surveys/2000survey/2000survey.html (Accessed November 24, 2005).

  38. Galvez MP, Frieden TR, Landrigan, PJ. Obesity in the 21st century. Environ Health Perspect 2003;111(13):A684–A685.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Sallis JF, McKenzie T, Elder JP, Broyles SL, Nader, PR. Factors parents use in selecting play spaces for young children. Am J Prev Med 1997;22(3):208.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Weich S, Burton E, Blanchard M, Prince M, Sproston K, Erens B. Measuring the built environment: Validity of a site survey instrument for use in urban settings. Health & Place 2001;7:283–92.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Physical Activity for Everyone: Making Physical Activity Part of Your Life: Overcoming Barriers to Physical Activity. Department of Health and Human Services: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available online at: http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/physical/life/overcome.htm (Accessed December 12, 2005).

  42. Gilliland J, Holmes M, Tucker P, Irwin, JD. Environmental equity is child’s play: Examining neighbourhood opportunities for youth recreation. Vulnerable Children & Youth Studies 2006;1(3):256–68.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Guba EG, Lincoln, YS. Fourth Generation Evaluation. London: Sage, 1989;233–43.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Benham-Deal T. The preschool mover: A comparison between naturally-occurring and program-directed physical activity patterns. Early Child Development and Care 1993;96:65–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Burdette HL, Whitaker, RC. Resurrecting free play in young children. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2005;159:46–50.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Klesges RC, Eck LH, Hanson CL, Haddock CK, Klesges, LM. Effects of obesity, social interactions, and physical environment on physical activity in preschoolers. Health Psychol 1990;9(4):435–49.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Baranowski T, Thompson WO, DuRant RH, Baranowski J, Puhl J. Observations on physical activity in physical locations: Age, gender, ethnicity, and month effects. Res Q Exerc Sport 1993;64:127–33.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Loukaitou-Sideris A, Stieglitz O. Children in Los Angeles parks: A study of equity, quality and children’s satisfaction with neighbourhood parks. Town Planning Review 2002;73(4):467–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Sherer, PM. Why America needs more city parks and open space. The Trust for Public Land White Paper. 2003.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Western Ontario, Arthur and Sonia Labatt Health Sciences Building, London, ON, N6A 5B9, Canada

    Patricia Tucker MA &  Jennifer D. Irwin PhD

  2. Department of Geography, University of Western Ontario, Canada

    Jason Gilliland PhD

Authors
  1. Patricia Tucker MA
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jason Gilliland PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jennifer D. Irwin PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jennifer D. Irwin PhD.

Additional information

Sources of funding: The Canadian Institutes for Health Research and The London Community Foundation

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tucker, P., Gilliland, J. & Irwin, J.D. Splashpads, Swings, and Shade. Can J Public Health 98, 198–202 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03403712

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03403712

MeSH terms

Search

Navigation