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.

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.

Bike, Walk, and Wheel

November 1, 2012 | Journal Article

Columbia residents walked and biked more in 2009 than previously, thanks to an Active Living by Design grant and infrastructure improvements.

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.

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.

Are Perceptions about Worksite Neighborhoods and Policies Associated with Walking?

November 1, 2009 | Journal Article

Getting the recommended 30 minutes of moderate physical activity most days can be a challenge for working adults. The researchers rated workplace community zones according to numerous characteristics that were supportive or not of walking.

Safe Routes to School State Network Project

March 1, 2009 | Report

Building momentum and policy change by the Safe Routes to School National Partnership.

Active Living by Design

February 4, 2013 | Program Result Report

From 2001 to 2009, 25 community partnerships across the country pursued projects designed to revamp the built environment and change public policies to make physical activity part of everyday life.

State Legislation to Address Childhood Obesity

December 14, 2012 | Program Result Report

Researchers analyzed state legislation on childhood obesity for factors that predict enactment and to understand the relationship between enacted policies and obesity rates. They developed tools to help others analyze legislation.

Lessons from a Mixed-Methods Approach to Evaluating Active Living by Design

November 1, 2012 | Journal Article

Active Living by Design creates community-led change by working with local and national partners to build a culture of active living and healthy eating.