Urban Parks and Trails and Physical Activity

Urban parks and trails offer a significant venue for promoting active living. Public parks are accessible to most people, generally offer free year-round opportunities, and have the potential to play an essential role in promoting physical activity to contribute to healthier people and to prevent cardiovascular disease and obesity. The purpose of this paper is to provide an integrative summary of the research, within leisure studies and in related fields such as public health and urban planning, that describes the relationships between urban outdoor recreation venues, including parks, trails and greenways, and opportunities for physical activity. Research is emerging that documents the associations that exist between urban parks and participation in physical activity. Limitations are noted and a rationale is made for conducting further research to explicate more clearly the links between urban parks and physically active people.