Preventing Chronic Disease | Seasonal Alterations in Park Visitation, Amenity Use, and Physical Activity — Grand Forks, North Dakota, 2012–2013 - CDC

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Preventing Chronic Disease | Seasonal Alterations in Park Visitation, Amenity Use, and Physical Activity — Grand Forks, North Dakota, 2012–2013 - CDC

Seasonal Alterations in Park Visitation, Amenity Use, and Physical Activity — Grand Forks, North Dakota, 2012–2013

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• Abstract
• Introduction
• Methods
• Results
• Discussion
• Acknowledgments
• Author Information
• References
• Tables

James N. Roemmich, PhD; LuAnn Johnson, MS

Suggested citation for this article: Roemmich JN, Johnson L. Seasonal Alterations in Park Visitation, Amenity Use, and Physical Activity — Grand Forks, North Dakota, 2012–2013. Prev Chronic Dis 2014;11:140175. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd11.140175.

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Abstract

Introduction
Park amenities promote visitation and physical activity during summer. Physical activity declines during winter. Identifying park amenities that promote visitation during winter would increase year-round activity. The purpose of this study was to determine how park visitation, amenity choice, and physical activity intensity change across seasons.

Methods
Physical activity intensity of children and adults was assessed at 16 parks in Grand Forks, North Dakota, during summer and fall of 2012, and winter and spring of 2013.

Results
Park visitation was highest in spring and lowest in winter. Amenity use varied by season. Parks with water splash pads were visited more during summer, and playgrounds and open spaces were visited more during spring. Ice rinks were visited most in winter. Physical activity intensity was lowest in summer and highest in winter for each age group. The activity intensity observed for all young age groups ranged from 2.7 to 2.9 metabolic equivalents in summer and greater than 3 metabolic equivalents in all other seasons. Adults’ mean activity intensity was greater than 3 metabolic equivalents in winter.

Conclusion
Information on park visitation, amenity use, and activity intensity across seasons is valuable; it can be used when designing or redesigning parks in order to promote year-round physical activity. Redesigning parks in cold climates to include ice rinks, sledding hills, cross-country skiing, and indoor areas for physical activity would increase winter visitation and allow the park to serve as a year-round resource for physical activity.

Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the material contributions of Joley E. Beeler, BS, to data collection and writing of this manuscript. We thank the Grand Forks Park District for access to the parks. This research was supported by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Agricultural Research Service project USDA 5450-51000-049-00D. The contents of this article do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the USDA or the Agricultural Research Service. The mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations does not imply endorsement by the US government. The study sponsor had no involvement in the study design; collection, analysis, or interpretation of data; writing the manuscript; or the decision to submit the manuscript for publication. The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

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Author Information

Corresponding Author: James N. Roemmich, PhD, Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, Grand Forks, North Dakota 58203-9034. Telephone: 701-795-8272. E-mail: james.roemmich@ars.usda.gov.

Author Affiliations: LuAnn Johnson, Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, Grand Forks, North Dakota.

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