Park Revitalization
The Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to conserve land for people to enjoy as parks, gardens and other natural places, ensuring livable communities for generations to come. TPL is leading the Parks for People—Bay Area Initiative to revitalize and rebuild three high-impact parks in underserved San Francisco neighborhoods with a high need for safe and accessible outdoor recreational resources. TPL is engaging community members in a participatory design process for each park and will complete the three parks by the end of 2011.
Parks and Health
Recognizing the rising concerns of childhood obesity and diabetes, and the role that urban parks can have in offering opportunities for physical activity as well as other health benefits, the San Francisco Department of Public Health’s Program on Health, Equity and Sustainability is partnering with the Trust for Public Land (TPL) and the RAND Corporation to study the health impact of the park renovations, with an emphasis on park equipment and cues to increase physical activity. This three-year study, entitled "Park Renovation Impact on Physical Activity Among Youth” is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson, Active Living Research program.
The specific aims of the study are focused to:
1. Identify which park features and cues contribute the most to physical activity among youth
2. Evaluate the impact of three park renovations on physical activity among local youth, using before and after site observation and survey methods
3. Identify factors in the design process and the park’s neighborhood context that contribute to the success or lack of success of the park renovation in increasing physical activity among youth
Data collection of existing park conditions was completed in Spring 2009.
As a collaborative partner, SFDPH is providing and interpreting local neighborhood environmental conditions data to inform park design. The project utilizes SFDPH's health impact assessment tools such as the HDMT and the Pedestrian Environmental Quality Index, and SFDPH staff are supporting local data collection, analyses, and community outreach for the park redesign.
The Trust for Public Land’s website contains more information for each of the parks undergoing renovation including the latest information on the redesign and community meetings.
Hayes Valley Playground in Hayes Valley/Western Addition
Balboa Park in the Excelsior
Boedekker Park in the Tenderloin
Please contact megan.wier@sfdph.org at SFDPH for more information regarding the project.