Something for the young and old: A natural experiment to evaluate the impact of park improvements

Given the significant time and financial investment required to improve parks, evaluations of the effectiveness of park improvements are crucial to inform future investment and design to benefit people of all ages. This natural experiment study examined the impact of park improvements on park visitation and park-based physical activity (PA) in two suburban parks (Park A and Park B) compared to a control park with no improvements. Park A underwent substantial improvements with wide range of facilities, including an all-abilities large adventure-style playground, outdoor fitness area designed for older adults, walking paths and other amenities. Park B received relatively minor improvements that included a playground for young children, outdoor fitness equipment for older adults, and a picnic area. Direct observations were conducted using the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities at three timepoints; before (T1–2020) and after (T2–2021, and T3–2022) the improvements. At Park A, there was a significant increase in the total number of park visitors at both timepoints, and those engaged in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) from T1 to T3, relative to the control park. There were also significant increases in active park visits among children, adults, and older adults. At Park B, there were no significant changes in the total number of park visitors or those engaged in MVPA at either timepoint relative to the control park. These findings suggest the extent of improvements and the diversity of facilities included can influence the success of the intervention. The study highlights that including challenging and diverse play equipment suitable for various age groups and abilities, as well as other recreational features such as walking paths and outdoor fitness equipment can increase park visitation and physical activity across different age groups. The findings can inform future park management and planning decisions.