“We actually care and we want to make the parks better”: A qualitative study of youth experiences and perceptions after conducting park audits

Youth may be valuable contributors to community planning effortsThis study was part of a broader project designed to engage young people in becoming advocates for healthy community development through innovative technology. Over one hundred youth (ages 11-18) completed the larger project which involved conducting park environmental audits focusing on the presence, condition, and usability of important elements within a park and its surrounding neighborhood. The tool (Community Park Audit Tool) used for the audits was designed to be a comprehensive yet user-friendly means of evaluating parks for their potential to promote youth physical activity. Youth participating in the project used either a paper-pencil or electronic version of the tool.

Fifty youth completing the larger project agreed to participate in retrospective focus groups which were held one week after conclusion of the larger project. Nine focus groups were conducted ranging in size from 3-8 youth and lasting 30-50 minutes. Open-ended questions and probes were used to elicit youth thoughts about their experience participating in the project, intrapersonal changes as a result of participation, suggested use of information collected from the park audit tool, and who should use the tool.

Youth reported both positive and negative responses relating to their participation in the project. “Fun” and “new experiences” represent the positive responses, while “uncomfortable/unsafe” and “travel issues” represent the negative responses. Changes noted by the youth include an increased awareness of community resources, motivation for further action, and increased physical activity. Youth offered numerous suggestions for how to use the information obtained through the audit, including suggestions for maintaining and improving the park. They also offered ideas on who could use the park auditing tools, including park staff and the general public.

The information provided by youth regarding their participation in park audits supports the idea that youth engagement in community-development projects may be a viable way to build social capital and promote public health.