Prioritizing playgrounds and sports fields in public open spaces can increase kids’ physical activity levelsPublic open spaces have the potential to increase young people’s physical activity levels. This study analyzed how children and adolescents used open spaces in a small city in Uruguay to understand how their physical activity levels varied by age group, gender, and characteristics of the space. This analysis can provide a deeper understanding of the activity environments that young people prefer to inform public policies to promote more physical activity in parks and other public spaces.
This quantitative study documented young people’s usage patterns in 29 open space areas spread across several urban neighborhoods in a small Latin American city. The researchers observed each public open space 9 times and used manual counters to record the age, gender, and physical activity levels of infants to adolescents (age 0-18) at different times of day and different days of the week. They used a standardized observation protocol to code the intensity of physical activities they observed and to categorize the types of spaces in which these activities took place. They then used statistical analysis to analyze this frequency data to understand patterns in the young people’s use of these spaces, especially their physical activity levels in targeted areas.
798 young people used the open spaces during observations with 59.8% adolescents (age 13-18), 32.3% middle childhood (6-12), and 7.9% young children (0-5). Targeted spaces were empty 70% of the time they were observed; youth primarily used public spaces in the afternoons and evenings. Half of the users participated in sedentary activities. Young people were most physically active in spaces designed for physical activity: playgrounds, sports fields, parks, and squares.
The data also revealed gendered patterns in young people’s use of these spaces. 67% of users were male, and boys participated in physical activities twice as much as girls. Girls were more likely to use open spaces and participate in physical activity in areas that were equipped, supervised, and/or organized—not dark or empty. Boys were also active in spaces that were equipped, supervised, and/or organized but also made significant use of green spaces for physical activities, which was not true for girls. Girls’ usage patterns were also higher on weekends than weekdays.
Overall, the results indicate that adolescents, especially boys, are the primary users of public open spaces in this Uruguayan town. These usage patterns can inform government and public policies that seek to increase young people’s physical activity and use of public space. One key finding was that sports fields and playgrounds attracted more young people to open spaces and accounted for their highest physical activity levels. Thus, providing active play areas can increase young people's utilization of public open spaces and their physical activity levels. Likewise, providing equipment, supervising these areas, and offering organized activities could increase the number of visitors to open spaces and enhance young people’s physical activity levels. The authors also speculated that girls and younger children might feel safer and be more active when caregivers are present or when participating in organized activities supervised by adults.
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