The Recording and EValuating Activity in a Modified Park (REVAMP) study provides clear evidence that investing in well-designed playground refurbishments can increase park visitation and encourage visitors to use these spaces to be physically active.
Attracting people to visit and be physically active in parks is very important as physical inactivity is a major contributor to the burden of chronic disease. With significant population growth in urban areas and increases in mid and high density living, the availability of high quality parks is critical for future generations.
An innovative play-scape was installed in Brimbank Park, a large metropolitan park located in an area of social and economic disadvantage in Melbourne’s north-west. The new ‘play-scape’ includes: a maze, nature play area, climbing equipment and various sculptures designed to encourage visitors, and particularly children, to connect with the natural environment. The Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN) examined the impact of the Brimbank Park improvement on children, parents, adults and seniors over two years compared to a control park.
They found:
- Brimbank Park had more than two and a half times more park visitors, relative to the control park
- Brimbank Park had more than double the amount of park visitors observed engaging in moderate to vigorous-intensity physical activity, relative to the control park
- Visitors to the new play-scape area at Brimbank Park increased more than seven times, compared to visitor counts at the control park which decreased slightly over the same period.
This evidence is important for policy and decision makers, urban planning, and future park developments, to ensure our parks are designed to support local communities to lead healthy and active lives.
To find out more about the REVAMP study visit the IPAN website.
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