UHCL : Research Yields Insights For Creating Better Parks

Press release from University of Houston-Clear Lake:

July 21, 2021

Closed facilities and social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic have made outdoor
parks more important than ever for exercise and leisure. A new study from University
of Houston-Clear Lake researchers identified physical activity trends and potential
barriers to park usage, emphasizing the importance of accessibility to green spaces.

UH-Clear Lake Exercise and Health Science faculty members Isabelle Kusters, Julianna Dean, and Denise Cazes, as well as Master of Science in Exercise and Health Science alumnus Mark Sommer while he was a graduate assistant, investigated where and when
members of the UHCL community were exercising. They also collected their experiences
and attitudes towards using public parks.

Their study has been recently published in an article entitled, "Physical Activity
Behaviors and Park Use Among Members of a Mid-Sized University" in the Texas Journal of Public Health.

"In public health, we know that physical activity is crucial for our physical, mental,
and social well being," Kusters said. "Houston has high levels of chronic disease,
such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, making physical
activity even more important to integrate into daily life. This is why green spaces
such as parks are a crucial component of a community's infrastructure. They must be
readily and freely accessible for communities to use," she said.

Sommer said he was able to apply the data management and analysis techniques that
he learned in his classes to this project. "I was involved in coding detailed survey
responses into analyzable formats, applying the skills and knowledge I gained throughout
the Master's program," he said. "Communities and municipalities can take this information
more into account when city planning. It will help them make it easier for people
to get into parks, because people need to feel comfortable when they're trying to
get fit."

Many of the survey respondents reported that they typically performed activities such
as walking, running, and resistance exercises. These top activities were done across
various locations, such as at home, in gyms, or at parks. "We also found that most
respondents exercised after 5 p.m., and they completed physical activity on at least
one weekend day and at least one weekday," Dean said.

Respondents also said they found safety, maintenance, a relaxing atmosphere, and easy
parking to be very important in parks.

"What this data shows us is that the types of physical activity that people are doing
and the times that they are exercising are consistent with park availability, if the
conditions are right," she said.

Kusters said the results of this study are crucial for understanding how to improve
the physical spaces within our communities. "We do have a lot of beautiful green spaces
and trails on and around our campus. However, we must ensure that parks are also integrated
within residential areas for optimum public health."

For more information about UHCL's Exercise and Health Science program, go online.

This press release was produced by University of Houston-Clear Lake. The views expressed here are the author’s own.