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.

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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.

Beyond Distance: Children's School Travel Mode Choice

February 1, 2013 | Journal Article

Attitudes and perceptions about the environment are discussed in this comprehensive study assessing modifiable elements and environmental features beyond the actual distance to school.

Aesthetic Amenities and Safety Hazards Associated with Walking and Bicycling for Transportation in New York City

February 1, 2013 | Journal Article

Neighborhood street amenities such as sidewalk cafés, as well as fewer safety hazards may be associated with walking or active transportation.

Evaluation of Active Living by Design

November 1, 2012 | Journal Article

Active Living by Design (ALbD) community partnerships that did more preparation did implement more programs, promotions, physical projects, and policy influences. But partnerships working in non-White and poor communities implemented fewer interventions, according to this exploratory analysis to detect configurations of community characteristics.

Isanti County Active Living

November 1, 2012 | Journal Article

This project worked with three cities to change policies to require paving of road shoulders, and sidewalks and trails in new developments. The project also enhanced trails, and created biking and walking maps and signs.

Using a Bicycle-Pedestrian Count to Assess Active Living in Downtown Wilkes-Barre

November 1, 2012 | Journal Article

This partnership implemented mixed-use development and created a business-improvement district with a focus on cleanliness and security.

Infrastructure, Programs, and Policies to Increase Bicycling

January 1, 2010 | Journal Article

A multifaceted, coordinated approach offers the promise of substantial growth in bicycling, even in cities with low bicycling levels.

Leveraging Neighborhood-Scale Change for Policy and Program Reform in Buffalo, New York

December 1, 2009 | Journal Article

This article discusses the work of the Healthy Communities Initiative in Buffalo, New York. The Healthy Communities Initiative is a community partnership to promote active living in the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus and the two neighboring communities, Fruit Belt and Allentown.

The Path to Active Living

December 1, 2009 | Journal Article

This article examines the work of the Somerville Active Living by Design Partnership. The authors report on the partnership between Active Living by Design and community organizations and assess the key successes and challenges of the project.

Get Active Orlando

December 1, 2009 | Journal Article

Get Active Orlando (GAO), a community partnership focused on increasing active living in one lower-income neighborhood in Orlando, FL, succeeded in both its long-term infrastructure-related and its short-term lifestyle-related goals, according to an assessment by representatives of GAO and the city.

Active Seattle

December 1, 2009 | Journal Article

Although the successes of Active Seattle, a partnership of a pedestrian advocacy group and the City of Seattle's transportation and public health units, reflect citywide change that could increase walking over time, a local assessment reports there are still barriers that require the initiative to modify its methods and broaden its programmatic approach.