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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Active Living Logan Square

December 1, 2009 | Journal Article

This article profiles the work of Active Living Logan Square, a program run by the Logan Square Neighborhood Association with funding from Active Living by Design. Active Living Logan Square was able to make positive active living improvements by engaging the community and a wide variety of partners.

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.

A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of School-Based Active Living Programs

November 1, 2012 | Journal Article

Activities promoting Active Living by Design (ALbD) were implemented at a public elementary school in Chicago over five years. Students enrolled continuously from Grade 1 through Grade 4 had a significantly lower BMI compared with students who had transferred to the school after Grade 1.

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.

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.

Changing Policies and the Physical Environment So Children and Families Can Eat Well and Move More

February 14, 2012 | Story

A profile of Sarah Strunk, MHA, director of Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities.

Summary Progress Report Active Living by Design Grant Program

September 1, 2009 | Report

In 2003, there were 25 community partnerships (CPs) from across the country who were selected to receive funding for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's (RWJF) Active Living by Design (ALbD) initiative. Results from the funded communities are presented in the context of the "5P" Community Action Model.

The Active Living by Design National Program

December 1, 2009 | Journal Article

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) established the Active Living by Design national program to promote daily physical activity in America. The American Journal of Preventive Medicine has published a supplement detailing lessons learned from the ALbD national program.

Health Organizer Spearheads Efforts to Promote Physical Activity in Chicago Neighborhood

February 22, 2010 | Story

With leadership from Lucy Gomez-Feliciano, Active Living Logan Square worked with McAuliffe Elementary School and Ames Middle School to expand opportunities for physical activity.