Park Physical Activities

HAPTER 2- LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 NEIGHBOURHOOD PARKS AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY:
Parks are important for physical activity. This literature review will examine two areas of research relating factors related to park-based physical activity (i.e., park characteristics and constraints), as well as the influence of demographics and past experience.
2.1.1 Physical activity and park characteristics
Characteristics of parks are shown to influence the activity in parks. Various factors include features (facilities, programs, diversity), condition (maintenance, incivilities), access (availability, equitable, individual, within park), aesthetics (design, attractiveness), safety (perceived, objective), and policies (management, budget). These factors work

One such factor is constraints, defined as “factors that limit people’s participation in free time activities”. Even though parks and other health related services are available in communities and people express interest in healthy lifestyles, many do not visit parks or engage in free time physical activity. Constraints research generate new perceptions into aspects of leisure previously thought to be well understood by understanding the negative factors of individual’s behaviour and choices. Three categories of constraints to leisure: intrapersonal constraints, interpersonal constraints, and structural constraints. Intrapersonal constraints are individual psychological states and attributes that inhibit the gaining of leisure preference, including abilities, personality needs, and attitudes (e.g., fears or preferences). Interpersonal constraints are those arisen from others like family and friends (e.g., not having people to go with). Finally, structural constraints are factors get involved leisure preference and participation (e.g., lack of time/money). A hierarchical model of constraints in which intrapersonal constraints are encountered first, followed by interpersonal constraints and structural constraints resulting in either participation or