Abstract

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NYC Parks and Childhood Overweight: An Examination of Proximity and Quality
Track: Health and Human Services
Author(s): James Quinn, Kathy Neckerman, Andrew Rundle, Christopher Weiss

Despite current interest in built environment effects on exercise and obesity, there is little evidence about the association of the built environment with physical activity and overweight among children. We examined the relationship between park access and body weight for a sample of low-income NYC preschool children whose physical activity was measured using accelerometers. In addition to GIS-derived network distances to park access-points, we examined park quality using the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation's Parks Inspection Program (PIP). The PIP rates parks for sixteen measures, grouped into three domains: cleanliness (litter, graffiti, broken glass, weeds), structural features (sidewalk quality, paved surface, benches, fencing, play equipment, safety surface in play areas), and landscape features (lawns, trees, horticultural areas, athletic field, water bodies, trails). We hypothesized that aesthetically-pleasing characteristics and access to recreational facilities (playgrounds and ball fields) will be associated with higher levels of physical activity and lower body size.

James Quinn
Columbia University
Institute for Social and Economic Research and Policy
International Affairs Building, MC 3355
420 W 118th Street, Rm 370F
New York , NY 10027
US
Phone: 212.854.6382
E-mail: jq2145@columbia.edu

Kathy Neckerman
Columbia University
Institute for Social and Economic Research and Policy
International Affairs Building, MC 3355
420 W 118th Street
New York 10027
US
Phone: 212.854.3694
E-mail: kmn2@columbia.edu

Andrew Rundle
Columbia University
Mailman School of Public Health
722 West 168th Street, Rm 730
New York 10032
US
Phone: 212.305.7619
E-mail: agr3@columbia.edu

Christopher Weiss
Columbia University
Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences
420 West 118th Street
International Affairs Building, MC 3355
New York , NY 10027
US
Phone: 212.854.7559
E-mail: cw2036@columbia.edu