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.

Learn more

You are now viewing 1 - 11 of 22 results

Sort results by:

Refine Your Results

By Topic

featured

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.

How Does Federal Funding Impact Infrastucture for Biking and Walking?

October 22, 2010 | Program Result Report

Researchers from the University of California, Davis, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences analyzed spending of federal funds for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure across metropolitan regions nationwide and conducted case studies.

Guam Sustantia Project

August 4, 2010 | Program Result Report

The Guam SDA (Seventh-day Adventist) Ypao Church of the Guam Micronesia Missions developed and implemented the Sustantia Project, a campaign to end childhood obesity in Guam.

Project Encourages Bike-Friendly Communities Through Awards Program and Website

March 25, 2006 | Program Result Report

The Bicycle Friendly Community Campaign is an awards program of the League of American Bicyclists (incorporated as the League of American Wheelmen) that recognizes municipalities that actively support bicycling.

Study

February 1, 2003 | Program Result Report

White Mountain Research Associates in Plainsboro, N.J., produced a preliminary evaluation report on the "Walk to School Day Program," a national initiative supporting a day for children to walk to school with parents and community leaders.

Tracking and Analyzing Trail Use in Indianapolis

October 2, 2008 | Program Result Report

Researchers examined patterns of trail use, analyzed the relationship between use and physical characteristics, and created statistical models that can be used to better understand trail use in other states or communities.

Women Who Walk: Study Looks at the Impact of Neighborhood Design

October 2, 2008 | Program Result Report

Researchers at Cornell University College of Human Ecology examined walking patterns of women moving into neighborhoods designed following new urbanism principles and women moving into traditional suburban neighborhoods.

Walking Program with Online and (Especially) Telephone Support Motivates African-American Women to Exercise

June 1, 2007 | Program Result Report

From 2000 to 2005, staff at the Black Women's Health Imperative created and implemented an online version of a self-help fitness program for African-American women called Walking for Wellness.

Three California Communities Make Neighborhoods More Walkable for Seniors

August 1, 2007 | Program Result Report

The California Center for Physical Activity helped three communities promote safe and accessible neighborhood walking routes for seniors.

Study Identified the Five Most Important Factors in Making a Community Activity Friendly

June 1, 2005 | Program Result Report

Researchers at St. Louis University developed a series of measurement tools to assess how a community's design and environment influence the kind of physical activity in which residents participate.

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.