Community Park Advisory Boards
City of Los Angeles / UCLA · Los Angeles, USA · 2014
Summary
The first RCT of a park-based physical activity intervention in the US. Parks randomly assigned to have structured community advisory boards—which examined park use, received training, and designed targeted strategies—showed measurable gains in physical activity among residents. Simply assigning a motivated park director without community structure produced smaller effects. The study suggests that local deliberation and ownership, not just management attention, drives park activation.
Research question
"Does community engagement through park advisory boards increase park use and physical activity?"
Methodology
Intervention
Three arms: control, park director intervention only, park director + community park advisory board (PAB)
Assignment
Randomized controlled trial (park/recreation center)
Sample size
50 neighborhood parks
Primary outcome
Physical activity intensity (System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities); self-reported park use
Effect estimate
Parks with PABs showed significant increases in physical activity intensity and individual park use vs. control
Decision
PAB model expanded to additional LA parks; model replicated in other cities
Result
Positive
Parks with PABs showed significant increases in physical activity intensity and individual park use vs. control
Evidence strength
Strong
Randomized controlled trial with large sample.
Replication status
Partially replicated
Institution
City of Los Angeles / UCLA
Location
Los Angeles, USA
Year
2014
Policy area
Parks & Public Space
Mechanism
Community engagement