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.

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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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Work Group I

April 1, 2009 | Journal Article

This article presents the conclusions of a work group charged with improving instrumentation to assess food and activity environments. The paper identifies key challenges and makes recommendations to improve instrumentation in this field.

Work Group II

April 1, 2009 | Journal Article

This paper presents conclusions from a work group that examined the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for food and physical activity research. The availability of geospatial information and tools provides new ways to investigate activity, weight and health.

Community Partnerships Engage People in Active Living

February 22, 2010 | Story

To encourage more people to walk, Isanti County Active Living also created Walk the Town maps for Cambridge, Isanti and Braham, which provide walking routes, the distance, steps and time for each route, and tips for walking.

Chapel Hill Mother Helps Create Active Routes to School

February 22, 2010 | Story

"I saw a lot of excitement in the kids who were part of Walking Wednesdays," said Diana Straughan. "Often, their parents were with them and it created a fellowship."

Active Living Research and the Movement for Healthy Communities

February 1, 2009 | Commentary

The Active Living Research program has made an important start in engaging underserved communities in efforts to increase physical activity on a population level. However, much remains to be done future efforts must focus on a bottom-up approach that will engage community members from the outset.

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.

Influence of the Social Environment on Children's School Travel

January 1, 2010 | Journal Article

Parents are more likely to allow their young adolescents to walk to school when they believe other adults monitor and intervene in the behavior of children in the neighborhood. This may suggest how federal monies should be spent to encourage children's active transport to school.

Development of the Rural Active Living Assessment Tools

January 1, 2010 | Journal Article

Obesity is a problem in rural, as well as urban, U.S. communities. Researchers have developed a set of easy-to-use, accessible assessment tools to help rural communities examine how friendly their locales are to healthy, active living.

Increasing Collaboration Among Philanthropies to Promote Healthy Communities

January 26, 2010 | Program Result Report

RWJF joined the Funders' Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities to encourage partnerships between smart growth proponents and those working to promote active living in their communities.

Sociodemographic, Family, and Environmental Factors Associated with Active Commuting to School Among US Adolescents

January 1, 2009 | Journal Article

Teens are more likely to walk, bike or skateboard to school, if they live within two miles, according to this analysis of data from a California health survey, reported in a supplement to the Journal of Public Health Policy regarding the 2008 Active Living Research Conference.