A new study conducted by researchers at the UC Irvine Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health suggests that the way public safety is managed in parks can significantly influence how residents use these spaces for physical activity.
The study, published in the Journal of Physical Activity & Health, focused on 17 public parks in South Los Angeles. It found that parks participating in community-led safety initiatives were linked to higher overall levels of physical activity among visitors. This effect was most pronounced among Black park users, indicating a potential strategy for addressing health disparities.
The research observed nearly 4,000 park users, collecting data on their age, sex, race, ethnicity, and levels of physical activity, from sedentary behaviors to moderate and vigorous activities. The study compared two distinct public safety approaches:
One approach, called Safe Passages, is a community-based violence prevention program. In eight parks, local Community Intervention Workers, trained in conflict de-escalation and trauma response, patrolled neighborhood spaces. The second approach involved nine parks that were part of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Community Safety Partnership, which places police officers in neighborhoods to foster relationships and deter crime.
Researchers noted higher levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity among visitors to parks with the Safe Passages program compared to those in Community Safety Partnership parks. Black park users, who made up 53 percent of visitors in Safe Passages parks versus 32 percent in Community Safety Partnership parks, showed significantly greater physical activity levels in the community-led environments.
Notably, the type of safety intervention proved to be a stronger predictor of physical activity than the quality of park features or amenities, such as basketball courts, soccer fields, restrooms, or water fountains. This finding persisted even after accounting for other variables like age, sex, race, and general park conditions.
Jason Douglas, Ph.D., an associate professor of health, society and behavior at the Wen Public Health school and the study's corresponding author, stated that public parks are vital community resources for health. He noted that access to these resources is shaped by more than just available amenities, suggesting that the approach to safety and who leads these programs can influence comfort levels for physical activity.
The findings contribute to the growing understanding of physical activity, neighborhood safety, and the availability of green space as social determinants of health. These factors play a role in preventing chronic conditions like cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, and obesity. In areas like South Los Angeles, where park space is limited compared to more affluent communities, concerns about crime and violence can deter park use, exacerbating health disparities.
The researchers suggest that investments in public parks may have a greater impact on community health when they also consider residents' perceptions of safety in those spaces. However, the study also revealed that children were more physically active in parks participating in the Community Safety Partnership program, suggesting that no single public safety strategy benefits all populations uniformly.
The UC Irvine team members emphasize the need for future research to explore how park design, recreational programming, and various safety models can work together to serve diverse communities. Douglas concluded that investments in parks should be seen as investments in public health, advocating for tailored safety strategies, especially community-led initiatives, to address health disparities in historically underserved areas.
