Physical Activity in Communities

RWJF Priority: Increase physical activity by improving the built environment in communities

When children have safe places to walk, bike and play in their communities, they’re more likely to be active and less likely to be obese. Communities can increase opportunities for physical activity by building new sidewalks, bike paths, parks, and playgrounds—and by improving those that already exist.

To encourage families to use these resources and facilities, communities can implement traffic-safety measures and neighborhood watch programs, so children are safe when playing outside. Such measures are especially important in underserved communities, where residents often face high crime rates, dangerous traffic patterns, and unsafe sidewalks.

The resources below, from RWJF grantees and partners, highlight recent efforts to identify the most promising solutions for promoting physical activity in communities.

Childhood Obesity Policy Priorities

From the New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids

Renovating Northgate Park in Camden, NJ

"We want to see kids and families active." The New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids helped to rennovate Camden's Northgate Park, where residents can now use the new playground and participate in activities like tennis, volleyball, and cycling.

Watch the video

From Active Living Research

Do All Children Have Places to be Active?

Children who live in communities of color and lower-income communities are more likely to live in neighborhoods that do not support physical activity.

Read the brief

From Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities

A Healthier Park

Chicago's healthy improvements to Humbolt Park include installing community gardens and healthy vending machines, and improving pedestrian access to parks.

Watch the video

From Salud America!

Physical Activity, Overweight and Obesity Among Latino Youth

Transportation issues, safety concerns, and lack recreational opportunities are some of the factors that prevent Latino youths from being active and encourage sedentary behaviors.

Read the brief

From Active Living Research

Promoting Physical Activity Through the Shared Use of School and Community Recreational Resources

Shared use of school and community recreational facilities are a cost-effective way to promote physical activity in a community.

Learn more

3 p.m. to Bedtime: Crunch Time for Children and Obesity

Crunch Time: Challenges and Solutions

A poll reveals that many parents face a variety of barriers to helping their children lead healthy lives, especially during the "crunch time" from 3 p.m. to bedtime.

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Childhood Obesity Program Area

RWJF is committed to tackling one of the most urgent threats to the health of our children and families—childhood obesity. Our goal is to reverse the childhood obesity epidemic by 2015.

A Poll About Children and Weight

February 25, 2013 | Survey/Poll

This poll provides new insights into the epidemic of childhood obesity and the challenges families face between school and sleep.

Active Living Research

December 20, 2012 | Program Result Report

Active Living Research is an ongoing national program to identify environmental factors and policies that can substantially increase levels of physical activity and to provide policy-makers with evidence about how to create more activity-friendly communities.

School District Wellness Policies

February 28, 2013 | Report

A report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Bridging the Gap program finds that progress to improve school district wellness policies has stalled.

Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities

February 17, 2012 | Program Result Report

In Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities, partnerships in 49 communities nationwide are changing local policies and revamping the physical environment to foster healthy living and prevent childhood obesity.

Texas Childhood Obesity Prevention Policy Evaluation (T-COPPE)

September 1, 2011 | Report/Evaluation

This brief provides select preliminary research results, preliminary analyses, and policy implications for the implementation of the national Safe Routes to School program in Texas.

The Relationship Between Perceptions of Neighborhood Characteristics and Obesity Among Children

April 1, 2011 | Book

This policy paper is from a series published by the National Bureau of Economic Research on obesity in the United States. The authors examined whether maternal perceptions of neighborhood environment affect children’s body weight.

Physical Activity

April 1, 2011 | Book

This policy paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research examines factors contributing to obesity, such as physical inactivity. Data are taken from surveys conducted as part of the 2000-2005 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey.

Yavapai-Apache Youth Council - "Dreams Do Come True"

March 15, 2011 | Program Result Report

The Yavapai-Apache Youth Council built a walking trail near tribal headquarters in Camp Verde, Ariz.

Influence of Schoolyard Renovations on Children¿s Physical Activity

September 1, 2010 | Journal Article

Learning Landscapes rebuilds worn-out schoolyards in Denver. This study compared physical activity at Learning Landscapes and non-renovated schoolyards. The authors built on previous research of physical activity in schoolyards by dividing the schoolyard surface into four categories.

Utilization and Physical Activity Levels at Renovated and Unrenovated School Playgrounds

February 1, 2009 | Journal Article

There is a relatively small body of research on the impact of the built environment on children's physical activity. This article examines whether renovated and unrenovated playgrounds have different levels of use and activity.