School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Collaboration for Evidence, Research and Impact in Public Health (CERIPH), Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Health Promot J Austr. 2022 Oct;33 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):334-339. doi: 10.1002/hpja.588. Epub 2022 Mar 17.
In Australia, the role of local governments authorities (LGAs) are diverse, ranging from waste collection to the provision of recreational facilities, such as parks. One strategy to improve parks is outdoor exercise equipment (OEE), and provide free, community-based physical activity opportunities. We undertook an observational study to capture a profile and behaviour of park visitors and OEE users in 2012 and 2019.
We compared observational data at two parks using the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) in March and June 2012 and 2019. Data were collected 6:30-7:30 AM and 5:30-6:30 PM weekdays; 8:30-9:30 AM and 3:30 to 4:30 PM weekends. Two trained staff collected data concurrently.
Total n = 1654 visitors were observed, most at Park One (68.0%; n = 1117), half were male (50.9%; n = 841). There were significant differences in the gender of visitors across the two parks (P < 0.001). Most visitors observed were young adults (42.6%; n = 705; P < 0.001). In 2012, 3.9% (n = 65) of all observed park visitors used the OEE, in 2019, this increased to 4.8 % (n = 78).
The adage 'Build it, and they will come' did not resonate with the two parks' local community. The key challenge is attracting people to local parks making OEE use attractive and easy. SO WHAT?: There is a demand for the provision of active environments that are accessible and inexpensive. LGAs may hold the key to delivering this infrastructure supported by diverse strategies to engage and promote the benefits of being physically active for all ages.
在澳大利亚，地方政府当局（LGAs）的角色多种多样，从垃圾收集到提供公园等娱乐设施。改善公园的一种策略是户外健身器材（OEE），并提供免费的社区基础体育活动机会。我们进行了一项观察性研究，以在 2012 年和 2019 年捕捉公园游客和 OEE 用户的概况和行为。
我们使用 2012 年 3 月和 2019 年 3 月和 6 月在两个公园使用社区游乐和娱乐观察系统（SOPARC）比较观察数据。数据在工作日的 6:30-7:30 上午和 5:30-6:30 下午收集; 周末 8:30-9:30 上午和 3:30 到 4:30 下午。两名经过培训的工作人员同时收集数据。
共观察到 1654 名游客，其中大部分在公园一号（68.0％; n = 1117），一半是男性（50.9％; n = 841）。两个公园的游客性别存在显著差异（P <0.001）。观察到的大多数游客都是年轻人（42.6％; n = 705; P <0.001）。2012 年，所有观察到的公园游客中有 3.9％（n = 65）使用了 OEE，而 2019 年这一比例增加到 4.8％（n = 78）。
“建造它，他们就会来”的格言并没有引起两个公园当地社区的共鸣。关键挑战是吸引人们到当地公园，使 OEE 的使用具有吸引力和便利性。那么，我们应该怎么做呢？人们需要提供可访问且价格低廉的积极环境。地方政府当局可能掌握着提供基础设施的关键，这些基础设施需要采用各种策略来吸引和促进各个年龄段的人进行身体活跃的好处。
