Mobility for health: Designing open parks to encourage physical activity

Abstract

The objective of this study is to investigate how the planning and design of open parks within neighbourhoods and communities can promote physical activity in order to enhance the health of the local population. An extensive literature review was conducted for studies regarding the relationship between health and physical activity and on the park characteristics that can promote physical activity among people. The findings of the literature review were then compared and analysed in order to identify the main characteristics of urban parks that can promote physical activity and enhance public health. In order to find out how the characteristics identified in the literature were applied in real life, an analysis of three existing parks in three different countries was conducted. The parks, apart from their geographical location, also vary in size and layout. The parks were chosen because they are urban open parks and they include facilities for physical activity.