Association of Access to Recreation Facilities and Parks with Adolescent Participation in Organized Sports and Activity Programs

With low rates of adolescents meeting the national guidelines for physical activity, identifying barriers that are preventing them from being physically active is important. One barrier that has been studied is the proximity of park and recreation facility near adolescents’ homes and physical activity in adolescents. To further understand the association between proximity of parks or recreation facilities and adolescents’ physical activity, this study examined the association of proximity, availability and total count of parks and recreation facilities with adolescent-reported participation in organized sport teams and physical activity classes. Data used were from the TEAN (Teen Environment and Neighborhood) study. To evaluate the associations between the objective and perceived access to parks and recreation facilities with adolescents’ participation in organized sports teams and physical activity classes, GIS data and NEWS-Y parental-reported proximity to parks and recreation facilities were used. Parent’s perceptions were related to adolescents’ participation in organized sport teams and fitness classes, but GIS-based proximity and total count of accessible facilities were not related to teams and classes participation Parents reporting better availability to parks or recreation facilities might support their adolescents to be physically active in organized sport teams or physical activity classes because they are aware of the programs offered nearby. Based on these results, we recommend (a) creating and evaluating interventions that increase parents’ knowledge of available parks and recreation facilities near their home, and (b) changing environments so parks and recreation facilities are available in all neighborhoods