Characteristics of urban parks associated with park use and physical activity: a review of qualitative research

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dc.contributor.authorMcCormack, Gavin R
dc.contributor.authorRock, Melanie
dc.contributor.authorToohey, Ann M
dc.contributor.authorHignell, Danica
dc.date.accessioned2022-11-28T22:04:31Z
dc.date.available2022-11-28T22:04:31Z
dc.date.issued2010-07
dc.description.abstractGiven that recent literature reviews on physical activity in urban parks deliberately excluded qualitative findings, we reviewed qualitative research on this topic informed by a published classification scheme based on quantitative research. Twenty-one studies met our inclusion criteria. These studies relied mainly on semi-structured interviews with individuals or in focus groups; only five studies involved in situ observation. Our synthesis aligns with previous quantitative research showing that attributes including safety, aesthetics, amenities, maintenance, and proximity are important for encouraging park use. Furthermore, our synthesis of qualitative research suggests that perceptions of the social environment entwine inextricably with perceptions of the physical environment. If so, physical attributes of parks as well as perceptions of these attributes (formed in relation to broader social contexts) may influence physical activity patterns. Both qualitative and quantitative methods provide useful information for interpreting such patterns, and in particular, when designing and assessing interventions intended to improve the amount and intensity of physical activity.en_US
dc.identifier.citationMcCormack, G. R., Rock, M., Toohey, A. M., & Hignell, D. (2010). Characteristics of urban parks associated with park use and physical activity: A review of qualitative research. Health & Place, 16(4), 712–726. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2010.03.003en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2010.03.003en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1880/115554
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisherElsevieren_US
dc.publisher.departmentCommunity Health Sciencesen_US
dc.publisher.facultyCumming School of Medicineen_US
dc.publisher.hasversionacceptedVersionen_US
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen_US
dc.publisher.policyhttps://www.elsevier.com/journals/health-and-place/1353-8292/open-access-optionsen_US
dc.subjectphysical environmenten_US
dc.subjectsocial environmenten_US
dc.subjectneighborhooden_US
dc.subjectrecreational facilitiesen_US
dc.subjectleisureen_US
dc.titleCharacteristics of urban parks associated with park use and physical activity: a review of qualitative researchen_US
dc.title.alternativeParks and physical activityen_US
dc.typejournal articleen_US
ucalgary.item.requestcopytrueen_US
ucalgary.scholar.levelFacultyen_US
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