Preventing Chronic Disease | Efforts of a Kansas Foundation to Increase Physical Activity and Improve Health by Funding Community Trails, 2012 - CDC
Efforts of a Kansas Foundation to Increase Physical Activity and Improve Health by Funding Community Trails, 2012
Katie M. Heinrich, PhD; Joseph Lightner, MPH; Katherine B. Oestman, MPH, CHES; S. Morgan Hughey, MPH; Andrew T. Kaczynski, PhD
Suggested citation for this article: Heinrich KM, Lightner J, Oestman KB, Hughey SM, Kaczynski AT. Efforts of a Kansas Foundation to Increase Physical Activity and Improve Health by Funding Community Trails, 2012. Prev Chronic Dis 2014;11:140356. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd11.140356
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Abstract
Introduction
Trails are associated with increased physical activity; however, little is known about the process of building trails by various types of organizations. From 2005 through 2012 the Sunflower Foundation: Health Care for Kansans (Sunflower) funded multiple organizations to construct 70 trails of varying lengths and surfaces in municipalities, schools, and communities across Kansas. The purpose of this study was to assess the process of developing and implementing community trail projects across Kansas with funding from a public foundation.
Trails are associated with increased physical activity; however, little is known about the process of building trails by various types of organizations. From 2005 through 2012 the Sunflower Foundation: Health Care for Kansans (Sunflower) funded multiple organizations to construct 70 trails of varying lengths and surfaces in municipalities, schools, and communities across Kansas. The purpose of this study was to assess the process of developing and implementing community trail projects across Kansas with funding from a public foundation.
Methods
In 2012, we stratified funded organizations by type and conducted proportional random sampling to select 20 key informants from those organizations to participate in structured telephone interviews. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Two researchers coded interview transcripts according to issues identified by participants.
In 2012, we stratified funded organizations by type and conducted proportional random sampling to select 20 key informants from those organizations to participate in structured telephone interviews. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Two researchers coded interview transcripts according to issues identified by participants.
Results
Issues associated with trail-building identified as important were collaboration among groups, unexpected construction costs, champions for the project, and level of difficulty of construction. Participants indicated that trails facilitated physical activity. Trails were integrated into communities through events such as walking events and other promotional efforts; these efforts were thought to increase trail use. The perceived outcomes of building the trails included providing the community with a physical activity resource, inspiring the community to start additional trail projects, and increasing the physical activity of local residents.
Issues associated with trail-building identified as important were collaboration among groups, unexpected construction costs, champions for the project, and level of difficulty of construction. Participants indicated that trails facilitated physical activity. Trails were integrated into communities through events such as walking events and other promotional efforts; these efforts were thought to increase trail use. The perceived outcomes of building the trails included providing the community with a physical activity resource, inspiring the community to start additional trail projects, and increasing the physical activity of local residents.
Conclusion
Sunflower’s funding was instrumental in developing trail projects to provide new physical activity resources across Kansas. Public health practitioners seeking to increase physical activity should seek funding from foundations that focus on health.
Sunflower’s funding was instrumental in developing trail projects to provide new physical activity resources across Kansas. Public health practitioners seeking to increase physical activity should seek funding from foundations that focus on health.
Acknowledgments
We thank the Sunflower Foundation: Health Care for Kansans for providing the funding necessary to complete this evaluation of trail construction across communities in Kansas. We also thank Erin Osler for her assistance with collecting data for the evaluation.
Author Information
Corresponding Author: S. Morgan Hughey, MPH, Doctoral Student, University of South Carolina, 915 Greene St, Room 519, Columbia, SC 29208. Telephone: 864-978-6852. E-mail: morganhughey@gmail.com.
Author Affiliations: Katie M. Heinrich, Joseph Lightner, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas; Katherine B. Oestman, Riley County Health Department, Manhattan, Kansas; Andrew T. Kaczynski, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina.
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