Places for physical activity
Program overview
Creating more opportunities for physical activity: Improving access to places that enable physical activity increases both residents’ physical activity levels and physical fitness. Most often, communities increase access to places that encourage physical activity by creating recreational spaces or by making active transportation modes (e.g., walking and biking) more attractive.
Supporting recreational programming: Communities can encourage residents to engage in recreational activities by providing access to the necessary facilities (e.g., sports fields, public pools). Community fitness programs can increase the use of these facilities by offering organized exercise and wellness programming, such as an indoor cycling class, a recreational basketball league, or a nutritional education program.
Designing communities to encourage physical activity: Making it safe and comfortable to walk, bike, or take public transportation to everyday destinations, like workplaces, schools, and retail destinations, can increase residents’ physical activity levels. The design of streets (see complete streets initiatives) and the surrounding land use (see mixed-use development) play key roles in encouraging active transportation.
- Strategies
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Parks and public spaces
- Cost per Participant
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Variable
Multiple studies with rigorous designs demonstrate the effectiveness of improving access to places for physical activity as a strategy for increasing physical activity and physical fitness.
- This assessment is based on evidence from a 2020 systematic review.
Assess local conditions: Communities should conduct a health equity assessment to inform its priorities around improving access to places for physical activity. Common elements of a health equity assessment include active transportation access; public transportation access and reliability; and access to parks, trails, and greenways. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Active Communities Tool and America Walks’ Guide to Walk Audits can assist communities in assessing their local conditions.
Consider both aesthetics and safety: The visual appeal of an environment and perceptions of crime and traffic safety impact whether an individual engages in physical activity. Communities can address these factors by considering the design of their physical environments (e.g., ensuring adequate lighting and unobstructed views in parks).
Leverage shared-use agreements: When improving or building additional public recreational facilities is impossible, local governments can enter into shared-use agreements with school districts, nonprofit organizations, and other groups.. By defining cost-sharing and other terms and conditions, shared-use agreements can open up public access to existing recreational facilities at lower cost.
Use demonstration projects: When considering infrastructure improvements to promote physical activity, local governments may conduct demonstration projects to evaluate which proposed changes will have the greatest impact. By starting with a temporary demonstration to provide proof of concept, local governments may also increase support from community members who are resistant to the proposed changes.