City Recreation Research Articles

Expansion of urban recreation areas as a factor for human capital renovation

The paper is focused on the development of urban space on the basis of the modern urban development concepts. The role of urban environment in the development of individuals, their physical, intellectual and spiritual potential is described with the use of human capital theory. The City Recreation concept is suggested to be accounted while planning the urban territory development. The role of recreation areas in urban environment is described, classification of urban recreation areas is given. The paper recites the results of a social study devoted to evaluation of satisfaction of typical urban district residents with the number and quality of recreation areas. Recommendations are given on public spaces expansion to provide daily recreation.

Expansion of urban recreation areas as a factor for human capital renovation

The paper is focused on the development of urban space on the basis of the modern urban development concepts. The role of urban environment in the development of individuals, their physical, intellectual and spiritual potential is described with the use of human capital theory. The City Recreation concept is suggested to be accounted while planning the urban territory development. The role of recreation areas in urban environment is described, classification of urban recreation areas is given. The paper recites the results of a social study devoted to evaluation of satisfaction of typical urban district residents with the number and quality of recreation areas. Recommendations are given on public spaces expansion to provide daily recreation.

A Youth-Leader Program in Baltimore City Recreation Centers: Lessons Learned and Applications

Peer-led interventions may be an effective means of addressing the childhood obesity epidemic; however, few studies have looked at the long-term sustainability of such programs. As part of a multilevel obesity prevention intervention, B'More Healthy Communities for Kids, 16 Baltimore college students were trained as youth-leaders (YLs) to deliver a skill-based nutrition curriculum to low-income African American children (10-14 years old). In April 2015, formative research was used to inform sustainability of the YL program in recreation centers. In-depth interviews were conducted with recreation center directors ( n = 4) and the YLs ( n = 16). Two focus groups were conducted with YLs ( n = 7) and community youth-advocates ( n = 10). Barriers to this program included difficulties with transportation, time constraints, and recruiting youth. Lessons learned indicated that improving trainings and incentives to youth were identified as essential strategies to foster continuity of the youth-led program and capacity building. High school students living close to the centers were identified as potential candidates to lead the program. Based on our findings, the initial intervention will be expanded into a sustainable model for implementation, using a train-the-trainer approach to empower community youth to be change agents of the food environment and role models.

Public Awareness of the Relation between Nature-friendly Watercourse Modifications and Recreation in Cities

The aim of the article is to present the results of a method of public preferences – a questionnaire survey finding an awareness of the relation between the modifications of watercourses and recreation in urban environment. The aquatic ecosystem and the water itself in a landscape are regarded by citizens as a mere source of energy, food, and water used for industry or as a means of transport. However, water elements along with the flora and fauna belonging to this living ecosystem provide a plethora of opportunities for a development of e.g. recreation, tourism, even an entire region. The questionnaire method used has been applied in selected cities in the Czech Republic, e.g. in Frýdek‑Místek, Olomouc, Vlašim, Benátky nad Jizerou and others. The criterion for selecting the cities has mostly been the construction of nature-friendly modifications to watercourse while seeking to increase the recreational potential of the area. The outcome of this article is to present the original results of the public survey which have subsequently served for a further processing of drafts and measures for recreational potential in the selected locations. The most important finding of this research was the minimum level of selected site citizens’ awareness of revitalization and flood modifications, projects that were realized on watercourses in the cities.

Kebijakan Pemanfaatan Ruang Wilayah Kabupaten/Kota

Green open space (GOS) is a space that is dominated by the natural environment, both outside as well as inside the city, in the form of a garden, courtyard, city recreation areas and green belt. The provision of green open space is a challenge in spatial planning, especially in terms of land acquisition. This study aims to assess regulatory policies on development and utilization of GOS issued by the relevant technical ministries. The analytical method used in this study was qualitatif descriptive, based on desk studiy and assessments from the field in the Banten Province. The result of the study indicated that regulatory policy was done through the process of zoning regulation with the intent that the guideline of land use in line with spatial plans. Funding source of this GOS came from Regional Budget Planning and other resources where the activities were monitored by the respective Governor in coordination with Regent/ Mayor. It needs a strong commitment between Central Government and Local Goverment in developing GOS. Control and utilization of urban space were organized by the governmentand involving community's participation

The influence of attitudes and perception of tree benefits on park management priorities

Urban parks are important public resources for outdoor recreation in cities. While the previous studies have concluded that people in general value parks and trees, it is still unclear how public attitudes towards trees and tree-centered management of parks relate to their support for park management priorities, and whether such attitude vary among parks within a city. This study surveyed visitors’ opinion in three parks within the City of Oak Ridge, Tennessee and focused primarily on aspects of park trees to determine what visitors believed should be a future priority for park management. Exploratory factor analysis and multiple regression analysis were employed to data collected from 263 visitors intercepted on site (response rate of 78.5%). Results showed that visitors placed relatively higher preference on planting more trees, increasing species richness and density of trees, than on planting trees in straight rows or pruning or caring. Similarly, visitors placed comparatively higher preference on trees that are native, less hazardous, resistant to pests and diseases, have longer life span, provide shade, wildlife habitat, than those having ability to block out the view of city’s developed landscape. Results also showed that visitors’ personal preference of tree aspects and attitude towards trees significantly affected their support for future tree planting and tree care efforts in city parks. Findings will be useful to city planners, municipal foresters, and landscape designers in understanding public preference for trees and tree-oriented management, and incorporating such information in designing new parks, and enhancing amenity value of existing parks.

Sustaining the Youth‐Leader Program in Baltimore City Recreation Centers: Formative Research Findings

Peer‐led interventions may be an effective means of addressing the childhood obesity epidemic, however few studies have looked at long‐term sustainability of such programs. In July 2014, we initiated wave 1 of a multi‐level, multi‐component obesity prevention intervention in Baltimore, USA ‐B'More Healthy Communities for Kids (BHCK). We trained 16 Baltimore college students as youth leaders to deliver a nutrition education and cooking skills curriculum to low income African‐American children (10–14 years old). They successfully delivered the program and achieved over 1600 interactions with youth (some repeats), an average of 10 youth in our target age range per session, during 98 sessions in after‐school programs held at seven recreation centers. Based on the successful first wave of implementation, we conducted a multiple‐methods formative evaluation to inform future capacity building and sustainability of the youth leader program in all recreation centers in Baltimore City. We conducted in‐depth interviews with recreation center directors (n=7) and BHCK youth‐leaders (n=12), and focus groups with youth leaders and teens from the community (n=15). Recreation center directors perceived many benefits of the program for children and their families related to improved nutrition knowledge and behaviors, such as the ability to read nutrition facts labels, and how to prepare foods in a healthier way. Directors identified children's low engagement as a key initial challenge, but noted a greater commitment throughout the implementation of the program. Youth leaders perceived improvements in their own eating behaviors and leadership skills. Communication within the youth leader group, absenteeism due to transportation issues, and time commitment were key challenges for leaders. The need for continuity of the program was a theme that emerged from both groups. High school students living close to the centers were identified as possible champions of the program to improve mentorship capacity in the community. Our findings indicate that the youth‐leader program was successfully implemented in seven recreation centers. Thus, we are expanding the program from wave 1 and developing a sustainable version for implementation within Baltimore City recreation centers utilizing a train the trainer approach. Youth Leaders from wave 1 will mentor high school students during wave 2 to empower and improve student's skills so they can deliver the nutrition curriculum in the after school programs. A recreation center director nutrition training will be also implemented prior wave 2 to improve director and staff buy‐in, and consequently, impact children's program engagement.Support or Funding InformationResearch supported by the Student‐Community Small Grant Award from the Urban Health Institute, the Northeast Regional Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Center of Excellence (NE‐RNECE), and the Global Obesity Prevention Center (GOPC) at Johns Hopkins, and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and the Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health (OD) under award number U54HD070725. Authors would like to thank the support from the Science without Borders, CNPq award number 249316/2013‐7.

Effects of a community based weight loss intervention in rural New York: A pilot study

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this longitudinal study is to evaluate the outcomes of a weight loss intervention in a rural community wellness center.METHODS: This six month (Oct'13‐ April'14) community based weight loss program was coordinated by the Plattsburgh City Recreation Department and SUNY Plattsburgh. Nineteen overweight adults (18 female, 1 male) aged 18 to 60 years (43.7 ± 12.2 years) residing in Clinton County, NY were recruited through local advertisements. Participants were charged a one time @100 fee. The program comprised twice‐weekly group exercise and bi‐monthly nutrition education classes. Paired samples t‐test and McNemer tests were performed to examine the pre‐post program outcomes.RESULTS: Individuals completing the program averaged a weight loss of 29.2 ± 22.5 pounds and inches loss of 22.04 ± 12.2. Significant reduction in BMI (3.4 ± 2.2, p < 0.001), % body fat (3.4 ± 2.3, p < 0.001), systolic blood pressure (11.3 ± 13.6, p < 0.05), diastolic blood pressure (7.75 ± 8.3, p < 0.05) and total cholesterol (20.33 ± 33.1, p < 0.10) were observed at 6 months. Prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension reduced from 80% to 46% (n =11, McNemar test: NS). Although not statistically significant, fasting lipids and blood glucose improved regardless of age. While there was no significant change in diet, consumption of roots and tubers decreased significantly.CONCLUSIONOur program results indicate that participants who complete a self‐paid, structured rural community‐based weight loss program can achieve significant weight loss with improvement in cardiovascular risk factors regardless of age.Funding: Presidential Research Award, SUNY Plattsburgh

Where Do Low-Income Children Get Food? Combining Ground-Truthing and Technology to Improve Accuracy in Establishing Children’s Food Purchasing Behaviors

Developing nutrition-focused environmental interventions for youth requires accurate assessment of where they purchase food. We have developed an innovative, technology-based method to improve the accuracy of food source recall among children using a tablet PC and ground-truthing methodologies. As part of the B’more Healthy Communties for Kids study, we mapped and digitally photographed every food source within a half-mile radius of 14 Baltimore City recreation centers. This food source database was then used with children from the surrounding neighborhoods to search for and identify the food sources they frequent. This novel integration of traditional data collection and technology enables researchers to gather highly accurate information on food source usage among children in Baltimore City.

Environmental Factors That Impact the Eating Behaviors of Low-income African American Adolescents in Baltimore City

To understand environmental factors influencing the food-related habits of low-income urban African American adolescents. Qualitative research was conducted between February and April, 2010, using in-depth interviews, focus groups, and direct observation. The study was conducted in low-income, predominantly African American neighborhoods of Baltimore City. A total of 20 adolescents were interviewed in 18 in-depth interviews (n = 13) and 2 focus groups (n = 7). Participants were recruited from Baltimore City recreation centers and were eligible if they were African American and aged 10-16 years. The food-related habits of low-income, African American, urban adolescents and reported perceptions of their food environments. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, coded, and analyzed for emerging themes. Six thematic categories emerged and were organized into 4 environmental contexts: the neighborhood context (accessibility of food and safety of neighborhood), the school context (school food environment), the family context (family health history, role modeling, and monitoring) and the peer context (peer behaviors). Future efforts to reduce the obesity epidemic among low-income African American adolescents should address the social environment of the family; however, positive behavior change may not be sustainable without neighborhood or school food environment modifications.

Instituting a Smoke-Free Policy for City Recreation Centers and Playgrounds, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2010

BackgroundIn the United States, more than 600 municipalities have smoke-free parks, and more than 100 have smoke-free beaches. Nevertheless, adoption of outdoor smoke-free policies has been slow in certain regions. Critical to widespread adoption is the sharing of knowledge about the policy development and implementation process. In this article, we describe our experience in making City of Philadelphia recreation centers and playgrounds smoke-free.Community ContextOf the 10 largest US cities, Philadelphia has among the highest rates of adult and youth smoking. Our objectives for an outdoor smoke-free policy included protecting against secondhand smoke, supporting a normative message that smoking is harmful, motivating smokers to quit, and mitigating tobacco-related sanitation costs.MethodsThe Philadelphia Department of Public Health and the Department of Parks and Recreation engaged civic leaders, agency staff, and community stakeholders in the following steps: 1) making the policy case, 2) vetting policy options and engaging stakeholders, and 3) implementing policy. Near-term policy impacts were assessed through available data sources.OutcomeMore than 220 recreation centers, playgrounds, and outdoor pools became smoke-free through a combined mayoral executive order and agency regulation. Support for the policy was high. Estimates suggest a policy reach of 3.6 million annual visitors and almost 850 acres of new smoke-free municipal property.InterpretationLocalities can successfully implement outdoor smoke-free policies with careful planning and execution. Such policies hold great potential for reducing exposure to secondhand smoke, promoting nonsmoking norms, and providing additional motivation for residents to quit smoking.

Childhood obesity prevention and control in city recreation centres and family homes: the MOVE/me Muevo Project

Interventions to prevent and control childhood obesity have shown mixed results in terms of short- and long-term changes. 'MOVE/me Muevo' was a 2-year family- and recreation centre-based randomized controlled trial to promote healthy eating and physical activity among 5- to 8-year-old children. It was hypothesized that children in the intervention group would demonstrate lower post-intervention body mass index (BMI) values and improved obesity-related behaviours compared with the control group children. Thirty recreation centres in San Diego County, California, were randomized to an intervention or control condition. Five hundred forty-one families were enrolled and children's BMI, diet, physical activity and other health indicators were tracked from baseline to 2 years post-baseline. Analyses followed an intent-to-treat approach using mixed-effects models. No significant intervention effects were observed for the primary outcomes of child's or parent's BMI and child's waist circumference. Moderator analyses, however, showed that girls (but not boys) in the intervention condition reduced their BMI. At the 2-year follow-up, intervention condition parents reported that their children were consuming fewer high-fat foods and sugary beverages. Favourable implementation fidelity and high retention rates support the feasibility of this intervention in a large metropolitan area; however, interventions of greater intensity may be needed to achieve effects on child's BMI. Also, further research is needed to develop gender-specific intervention strategies so that both genders may benefit from such efforts.

State, planning and design of Jodna spa in Novi Sad

The paper treats the area of Jodna spa in Novi Sad, which largely coincides with Futoški park, making with it the indissoluble unity. The main problem in the functioning of the Jodna psa is the fact that in legal sense Jodna spa does not exists, and in spatial sense there are still all of its content. The case of the paper is Jodna spa area, which includes the Special Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Hotel 'Park', Sports Center 'Sajmište' and Futoški park, which integrate them. The question of the Jodna spa planning, as well as the modern city recreation, spa and tourist center, is the goal of this paper. For this purpose it was necessary to show the historical background of the development of Jodna spa, to make the assessment of the state, critically analyze spatial plans which treat it and provide concrete suggestions for its design and equipping.

Influence of the built and social environment on adolescent eating behaviors in Baltimore City: Findings from the Baltimore Healthy Eating Zones study

Low‐income minority youth in Baltimore City live in an obesogenic food environment with limited access to healthy foods. The Baltimore Healthy Eating Zones Project (BHEZ) seeks to improve access to and consumption of healthy foods in low‐income neighborhoods surrounding Baltimore City recreation centers. Qualitative research, informed by an ecological perspective, was conducted to identify environmental factors impacting eating behaviors of target youth. Two focus groups and 20 in‐depth interviews were conducted with 21 Baltimore City adolescents aged 10–16. Six themes that emerged included those relating to the built environment (accessibility of food, neighborhood safety, school food) and the social environment (family health history, role modeling, peer behaviors). The influence of the family and adult role models emerged as the most salient reported influence on youth eating habits. These findings were used to inform the BHEZ intervention, specifically in developing more targeted messaging. Our findings and resulting intervention strategies have the potential to effectively promote healthy eating and reduce obesity risks among low‐income minority youth and their adult caregivers in Baltimore City.Grant Funding Source: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Baltimore Healthy Eating Zones (BHEZ) intervention program improves food related knowledge among low‐income inner‐city youth

The Baltimore Healthy Eating Zones (BHEZ) program consisted of a 9‐month intervention in Baltimore City recreation centers and local corner stores. BHEZ sought to increase access to healthy foods and positively influence psychosocial factors and eating behaviors among youth and caregivers in low‐income, predominantly African‐American neighborhoods. The study was evaluated in 71 African American youths aged 10 to 14 and their primary caregivers, recruited from 7 intervention and 7 control recreation centers. The impact of the intervention was measured by pre‐ and post‐ intervention surveys, compared by a paired sample t‐test. Intervention group youth significantly improved their food‐related knowledge as assessed by 12 questions (mean improvement of 1.1 correct answers, p‐value < 0.001), while control group youth did not improve their knowledge significantly (mean improvement 0.419, p‐value = 0.266). These preliminary findings indicate that the BHEZ intervention made a significant impact in improving the food‐related knowledge among Baltimore African‐American youths.Grant Funding Source: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Food environment around recreation centers in low‐income neighborhoods of Baltimore City

Low availability of healthy foods is linked to high rates of obesity and chronic disease among urban minority populations, but little data exists to describe food environments impacting the diets of urban African‐American youth. A retail food source observational checklist consisting of 44 low‐sugar, low‐fat, or high‐fiber items was conducted in 73 food stores within a 1 km radius of 14 Baltimore City Recreation Centers in low‐income neighborhoods. Of these stores, 80% were corner stores. A limited number carried low‐fat dairy (low‐fat or fat‐free milk, 15%; yogurt, 15%), whole grain products (whole wheat bread, 11%; brown rice, 8%), or 3 or more varieties of fresh vegetables (30%) or fresh fruits (11%). Low‐sugar cereals, high‐fiber cereals, 100% juice, diet soda, bottled water, and canned produce were each found in over 60% of stores. Less than 40% stocked healthy snacks such as baked chips, low‐fat granola bars, or trail mix. Baltimore youth frequently purchase food at corner stores, increasing the availability of healthy items in these stores is essential to improving diet in this population.Funding was provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Healthy Eating Research Program.

Adaptive comfort model for tree-shaded outdoors in Taiwan

Tree-shaded outdoors can reduce the heat effect by ameliorating the microclimate and enhancing the human thermal comfort outdoors; for this reason, they are main places for rest, recreation and social activity in Taiwan's cities. Field comfort surveys of 3839 interviewees were conducted in tree-shaded spaces throughout a year. The aims were to obtain a better understanding of human thermal comfort response outdoors and to propose an adaptive comfort model for tree-shaded spaces. A comfort zone, centering on neutral operative temperature which is an empirically derived linear function of mean monthly outdoor temperature, of 6 °C for 90% acceptability and 8 °C for 80% acceptability was suggested for tree-shaded spaces from surveyed data, adding that a non-linear function of the temperature difference between actual operative temperature and neutral operative temperature was established that aims to predict the percentage of heat or cold discomfort at a particular outdoor thermal condition. An application of the established adaptive comfort model on an actual tree-shaded space was demonstrated to show its practicality in long-term evaluation of a particular thermal environment.

An operational tool for determining the optimum repositioning strategy for leisure service departments

A sample of 331 residents of Grapevine, Texas, responded to an instrument designed to assess their perspectives of the priority issues related to economic development in their community. The instrument also assessed the parks and recreation department's contributions to these issues, and compared them with those of the police department in the area of preventing youth crime. The data were used to suggest a repositioning strategy for the city's parks and recreation department. The instrumentation and processes used in this case study are designed to offer a generalizable operational tool for leisure service agencies to use to determine an optimal repositioning strategy.

Knowing Something About Leisure: Help or Hindrance?

Jeanne and Sprenet folks Can any of you provide me with, or inform me about, any or (or even written policies and standards) that indicates how having a degree in Recreation gives one more credentials and skills in managing a large city recreation center-as opposed to someone who does not have a degree, or have a degree in our field? Are there any or practice articles out there that address this issue? The director of a large city park and recreation department has asked me to provide him with this research, documentation, or information. Their system is trying to require a degree in Recreation, or a closely allied field, as a requirement for anyone applying for the job of Recreation Center Director. They are in the process of trying to improve the professionalism of their staff. Some current department employees are claiming that this requirement is discriminatory, and are trying to force the director to remove this requirement for a degree in Recreation or an allied field. Can any of you point me in the right direction on finding this information? Thanks. (Leo McAvoy, posting to SPRENET, the Society for Parks and Recrea tion Educators listserve, September 7, 1999) The author of this posting poses a rather interesting question, one that certainly has implications for education, practice, and professionalization of the field. There are at least two distinct, but related issues apparent in this posting. First, unique qualifications does a recreation graduate have that someone without the degree does not? Second, the apparent lack of research or documentation that addresses the first issue. The purpose of this essay is to examine both of these issues; pointing out some of the discrepancies between our beliefs and our actions, the broader implications of these discrepancies for education, practice, and professionalization, and recommendations for addressing these broader implications. Advocates of leisure services in North America (most notably in the U.S.) have attempted to move the field toward professional status. While professional activities certainly are occurring elsewhere, this essay will primarily focus on the National Recreation and Park Association's accreditation and certification programs and their effect on public recreation. A definitive characteristic of a profession is a unique knowledge base that distinguishes professionals from nonprofessionals; a knowledge base that is relayed through formal education and training. An easy, but perhaps trite, response to the question what is unique about you do (or why or how)?; is know something about leisure! Leisure has been identified as a part of the philosophical underpinnings of the leisure services field for quite some time and the connection between leisure and leisure services has been taught, debated, and discussed. The controversial essay by Burdge (1985) regarding the eventual split between leisure studies and parks and recreation services, for example, invoked several responses in support of the connection between the two. Despite these and other attempts, the connection between the two remains unclear. If we can accept that knowing something about leisure may be the unique contribution to the body of knowledge, skills, and abilities required of practitioners, is it about leisure we presume to know? And how does it contribute in a unique way to what, why, or how we do we do? Two activities that promote and connote professional status are the accreditation of academic degree programs and the certification of individual practitioners. To answer the question what does a recreation graduate know about leisure? an examination of the National Recreation and Park Association's (NRPA) accreditation standards for academic degree programs may provide a useful start. These standards were developed with input from both practitioners and academicians and are widely held to represent the knowledge base of the field. …

Perceived Stress and Stress Projected into the Spontaneous Storytelling of Two Groups of Fourth Grade Children

The purpose of this descriptive correlation study was to describe stress levels in fourth grade children from two geographic locations: an inner city recreation club and a suburban parochial school. The use of spontaneous storytelling and a life events questionnaire provided information about the stress being experienced by the children. This article presents story themes and stressful life events of interest to adult caregivers helping children cope with stressful experiences.