School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong 3220, Australia.
Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), Deakin University, Geelong 3220, Australia.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2017 Nov 2;14(11):1335. doi: 10.3390/ijerph14111335.
Parks in the US and Australia are generally underutilised, and park visitors typically engage in low levels of physical activity (PA). Better understanding park features that may encourage visitors to be active is important. This study examined the perceived importance of park features for encouraging park-based PA and examined differences by sex, age, parental-status and participation in PA.
Cross-sectional surveys were completed by local residents ( = 2775) living near two parks (2013/2015). Demographic variables, park visitation and leisure-time PA were self-reported, respondents rated the importance of 20 park features for encouraging park-based PA in the next fortnight. Chi-square tests of independence examined differences in importance of park features for PA among sub-groups of local residents (sex, age, parental-status, PA).
Park features ranked most important for park-based PA were: well maintained (96.2%), feel safe (95.4%), relaxing atmosphere (91.2%), easy to get to (91.7%), and shady trees (90.3%). All subgroups ranked 'well maintained' as most important.
Natural and built environment features of parks are important for promoting adults' park-based PA, and should be considered in park (re)design.
美国和澳大利亚的公园通常未被充分利用，公园游客的身体活动（PA）水平通常较低。更好地了解可能鼓励游客积极参与的公园特征非常重要。本研究调查了公园特征对鼓励基于公园的 PA 的感知重要性，并按性别、年龄、父母身份和参与 PA 的情况进行了差异分析。
对居住在两个公园（2013/2015 年）附近的当地居民（n=2775）进行了横断面调查。人口统计学变量、公园访问和休闲时间 PA 都是自我报告的，受访者评估了 20 个公园特征对未来两周内基于公园的 PA 的重要性。独立性卡方检验分析了不同性别、年龄、父母身份和 PA 参与情况的当地居民群体在 PA 方面对公园特征的重要性差异。
对基于公园的 PA 最重要的公园特征是：维护良好（96.2%）、感觉安全（95.4%）、氛围放松（91.2%）、容易到达（91.7%）和有阴凉的树木（90.3%）。所有亚组都将“维护良好”列为最重要的特征。
公园的自然和建筑环境特征对促进成年人的公园内 PA 很重要，应在公园（重新）设计中予以考虑。
