Session Title: (12) Increasing Park Access to Enhance Health

Session Type: Research Poster 
Topic(s): Health and Wellness, Research (NRPA Research Sessions/”NRS”)
Partnerships

Day/Time: Wednesday - Poster Session
10/11/2023 10:45 AM (Central Time (US & Canada)) - 10/11/2023 01:00 PM (Central Time (US & Canada))

Room: Exhibit Hall, NRS Posters Booth

Audience Experience Level: Any level
Audience Familiarity with DEI: Any Level
CEU: 0

Description:
This session provides lessons learned through a multi-disciplinary partnership to enhance accessibility in Miami-Dade parks to encourage physical activity of residents to reduce underlying health conditions that contribute to negative health outcomes for coronavirus (COVID-19). Sponsored by the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County, team members from the University of Miami and Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces focused on six parks in high-risk areas, designating three for interventions and three as control parks. The team developed access-enhancing interventions, surveyed residents within a half-mile radius of each park, conducted drone flights to assess pre- and post-intervention park usage, and assessed outcomes. During this session, project team members will provide a brief introduction to parks and health impacts, an overview of the project design and implementation — including partnerships established and findings on increased access and park usage — and discuss broader applicability.

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify aspects of parks related to health impacts.
2. Identify possible interventions and potential partners to advance interventions.
3. Evaluate impacts of interventions to enhance health outcomes.

Speaker(s):

Joanna Lombard