Playground Guide - 2019 - 18

SPECIAL
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References:
Kim Joyce, " How Often & How Long
Should the Elderly Exercise? " Livestrong.com - www.livestrong.com/
article/522381-how-often-how-longshould-the-elderly-exercise/
Parks & Recreation in
Underserved Areas: A Public Health Perspective, NRPA - www.nrpa.org/
uploadedFiles/nrpa.org/Publications_
and_Research/Research/Papers/
Parks-Rec-Underserved-Areas.pdf
Placemaking for an Aging Population: Guidelines for Senior-Friendly Parks - UCLA Complete Streets
Initiative, Luskin School of Public
Affairs, Lewis Center for Regional
Policy Studies, June 2014 - www.
lewis.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/
sites/2/2015/04/Seniors-and-Parks-828-Print_reduced.pdf
Jennifer L. Copeland, Cheryl L Currie,
Ali Walker and Erin Mason, " Fitness
Equipment in Public Parks: Frequency of Use and Community Perceptions in a Small Urban Centre, "
Journal of Physical Activity & Health
14(5):1-29, February 2017.
James A. Mortimer, Yaakov Stern,
" Physical exercise and activity may
be important in reducing dementia
risk at any age, " Neurology, February 19, 2019 - https://n.neurology.org/
content/92/8

Parks & Recreation

Having a variety of outdoor fitness
equipment provides options for people of all
ages and abilities

the actual health improvement occurring in the community. Some residents described the equipment as a
neighborhood reminder to exercise. "
This research also indicates that
equipment installed in larger parks
where walking and jogging were taking place because there were more
paved walking trails tended to see
more equipment use.
Community members offered the
following three recommendations to
increase usage of the outdoor fitness
equipment:
* " Increase information and signs
about the equipment and how to
use it.

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* Include a human element by introducing programming to
teach and encourage
residents to use the
equipment.
* Improve the quality and maintenance
of both the equipment and the physical environment in
the park around the
equipment. "
As far as funding to
include programming
around using the
equipment, the report
continues: " Municipalities could include
programming in their
budget when planning
for the installation
of new fitness equipment. Creative
strategies could be used to make this
type of programming feasible from
a budgetary perspective. For example, postsecondary Kinesiology
programs often have students with
the training to provide such services
and who are looking for volunteer
practicum opportunities. "
Given the undisputed benefits of
outdoor fitness equipment, creating
opportunities for physical activity that
are inclusive for all is a definite growing trend. It's important, however, to
make sure that " fun " continues to be a
major element for adults.
Sonia Myrick is the Executive Editor for
Parks & Recreation magazine (smyrick@
nrpa.org).

http://www.trong.com http://www.livestrong.com/ http://www.nrpa.org/ http://lewis.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/ https://n.neurology.org/ http://www.TION.ORG

Playground Guide - 2019

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