title: Energy expenditure associated with the use of neighborhood parks in 2 cities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Availability of public neighborhood parks is associated with physical activity. Little is known about how parks contribute to population energy balance.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study estimated energy expenditure associated with the use of neighborhood parks and compared energy expenditure by activity areas within parks and by neighborhood race/ethnicity and income.
  
  
  METHODS
  The System for Observing Play and Leisure Activity among Youth (SOPLAY), a direct observation approach, was used to estimate energy expenditure in 10 Tampa (Florida) parks and 19 Chicago (Illinois) parks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Parks were selected from census tracts with a moderate to high representation of white, Latino, and African American populations.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 9454 park users were observed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sedentary, moderate, and vigorous activities were assigned metabolic equivalence intensity (MET) values of 1.5, 3, and 6, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Park use in Tampa generated 15 336 total METs over the study period. Chicago parks generated 7305.6 METs. Mean METs varied by activity areas in parks. For Chicago parks, mean METs were higher for parks in African American and higher-income neighborhoods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Public parks can contribute to population energy balance. Policies to make parks available, promotions to encourage park use, and programs to encourage active use of parks are necessary to achieve this potential.
authors: Shaw University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27601, USA. lsuau@shawu.edu
authors: Luis J
authors: LJ
authors: Suau
authors: Myron F
authors: MF
authors: Floyd
authors: John O
authors: JO
authors: Spengler
authors: Jay E
authors: JE
authors: Maddock
authors: Paul H
authors: PH
authors: Gobster
mesh_terms: D019352:Censuses; D002641:Chicago; D002648:Child; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D004779:Environment Design; D005431:Florida; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D010988:Play and Playthings; D011203:Poverty / Q000208:ethnology; D011633:Public Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012923:Social Class; D014505:Urban Population