title: Disparities in physical activity resource availability in six US regions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We conducted an ecological study to determine physical activity resource availability overall and by sociodemographic groups in parts of six states (CA, IL, MD, MN, NC, NY).
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on parks and recreational facilities were collected from 3 sources in 2009-2012. Three measures characterized park and recreational facility availability at the census tract level: presence of ≥1 resource, number of resources, and resource kernel density. Associations between resource availability and census tract characteristics (predominant racial/ethnic group, median income, and proportion of children and older adults) were estimated using linear, binomial, and zero-inflated negative binomial regression in 2014. Pooled and stratified analyses were conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 7139 census tracts, comprising 9.5% of the 2010 US population. Overall the availability of parks and recreational facilities was lower in predominantly minority relative to non-Hispanic white census tracts. Low-income census tracts and those with a higher proportion of children had an equal or greater availability of park resources but fewer recreational facilities. Stratification revealed substantial variation in resource availability by site.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The availability of physical activity resources varied by sociodemographic characteristics and across regions. Improved knowledge of resource distribution can inform strategies to provide equitable access to parks and recreational facilities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. Electronic address: SydneyJones@unc.edu.
authors.forename: Sydney A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Latetia V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Drexel University, School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology Department, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zagorski
authors.affiliation: School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Shannon J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Brines
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Drexel University, School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Ana V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Diez Roux
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Kelly R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Evenson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D004779:Environment Design / Q000191:economics*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups; D011203:Poverty; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011998:Recreation / Q000191:economics*; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D064890:Social Determinants of Health; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States
keywords: Environment; Geographic information systems (GIS); Parks and recreation; Physical activity; Policy