A recent study conducted by researchers at the UC Irvine Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health indicates that the methods used for public safety in parks can influence how residents utilize these spaces for physical activity. The findings, published in the Journal of Physical Activity & Health, suggest that the chosen approach to safety may be a stronger determinant of park usage for exercise than the availability of amenities like basketball courts or soccer fields.
The study examined nearly 4,000 park users across 17 public parks located in South Los Angeles. Researchers utilized a standardized observational tool to record demographic information such as age, sex, race, and ethnicity, alongside participants' levels of physical activity, which ranged from sedentary behaviors to moderate and vigorous activities.
Two distinct public safety models were part of the research. Eight of the parks participated in Safe Passages, a community-based violence prevention program. This program employs local Community Intervention Workers who are trained to identify and de-escalate conflict and trauma through unarmed responses, patrolling neighborhood spaces to cultivate a sense of safety. The other nine parks were involved in the Los Angeles Police Department’s Community Safety Partnership, which places police officers in neighborhoods with the aim of fostering community relationships and deterring crime.
The UC Irvine team observed higher levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity among visitors to parks operating under the Safe Passages program when compared to those using parks under the Community Safety Partnership. This difference was particularly noticeable among Black park users. Black individuals constituted 53 percent of visitors at Safe Passages parks and 32 percent at Community Safety Partnership parks, and they demonstrated significantly more physical activity in the community-led environments.
Even after accounting for factors such as age, sex, race, and the condition of the parks, the type of safety intervention remained more strongly associated with physical activity. This association was found to be more significant than the presence of park amenities like basketball courts, soccer fields, restrooms, or water fountains.
Jason Douglas, Ph.D., an associate professor of health, society and behavior at Wen Public Health and corresponding author of the study, highlighted the importance of these findings. "Public parks are critical community-level resources for promoting health and well-being," Douglas stated. He added that access to these resources is shaped by more than just physical features; the approach to safety and the leadership of these programs can influence whether people feel comfortable using the space for exercise.
These results arrive as public health experts increasingly recognize physical activity, neighborhood safety, and access to green spaces as key social determinants of health. Such factors play a role in preventing chronic conditions including cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, and obesity, while also supporting overall well-being. The study noted that access to safe, well-maintained parks has historically been unevenly distributed, particularly impacting communities of color that may have less park space and face concerns about crime and violence.
While the study indicated a general trend toward higher physical activity in community-led safety programs, it also noted that children were more physically active in parks participating in the Community Safety Partnership program. This suggests that no single public safety strategy may benefit every demographic in the same way.
The UC Irvine researchers propose that future studies should explore how various elements, including park design, recreational programming, and different safety models, can be integrated to serve the diverse needs of communities. Douglas concluded that "investments in public parks should be viewed as investments in public health," emphasizing that while a universal approach may not exist, community-led strategies offer a promising method for addressing health disparities in historically underserved areas. Tailoring safety strategies to meet the specific needs of different populations is an important area for ongoing research and policy development.
