Effects of Crime Type and Location on Park Use Behavior

Effects of Crime Type and Location on Park Use Behavior

ORIGINAL RESEARCH — Volume 17 — July 30, 2020

Oriol Marquet, PhD1; S. Scott Ogletree, PhD2; J. Aaron Hipp, PhD2; Luis J. Suau, PhD2; Candice B. Horvath, PhD2; Alexander Sinykin3; Myron F. Floyd, PhD2 (View author affiliations)

Suggested citation for this article: Marquet O, Ogletree SS, Hipp JA, Suau LJ, Horvath CB, Sinykin A, et al. Effects of Crime Type and Location on Park Use Behavior. Prev Chronic Dis 2020;17:190434. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd17.190434external icon.

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On This Page

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

Summary

What is already known about this topic?

Crime and the fear of crime can be a barrier to park use by adults, hindering the benefits parks can have for physical activity and health.

What is added by this report?

Using crime incident data, we examined the role crime locations (near home, near parks, and along routes to parks) play in park use.

What are the implications for public health practice?

Higher levels of crime near home and parks limit park use and residents’ rating of parks. Sources of crime must be considered if parks are to be a means of promoting physical activity in adults. Real and perceived crime can be a barrier to park use.

Abstract

Introduction

Crime and the fear of crime can be a barrier to park use, and locations of crimes can have varied effects. Unsafe areas in or around the park, around the residence, or along the route to the park can alter park use behavior. Our study aimed to examine associations between objective measures of types and location of crimes and park use behaviors.

Methods

In 2013 we surveyed a sample (N = 230) of residents in Greensboro, North Carolina, about park use, with responses matched to objective crime and spatial measures. We measured all crimes and violent crimes near home, near the closest park, and along the shortest route between home and park. By using ordered and binary logistic modeling, we examined the relationships between the locations of crime and park use and duration of park visit, park rating, and never visiting parks. Additional models included distance to the closest park.

Results

Increased crime in parks and near home was associated with fewer park visits. Greater violent crime in all locations was related to fewer park visits. Park ratings were lower for parks with high violent crime rates.

Conclusion

Given the importance of parks as settings for outdoor recreation and physical activity, crime may have a detrimental effect on physical activity and, therefore, public health.