Physical Activity in Communities

RWJF Priority: Increase physical activity by improving the built environment in communities

When children have safe places to walk, bike and play in their communities, they’re more likely to be active and less likely to be obese. Communities can increase opportunities for physical activity by building new sidewalks, bike paths, parks, and playgrounds—and by improving those that already exist.

To encourage families to use these resources and facilities, communities can implement traffic-safety measures and neighborhood watch programs, so children are safe when playing outside. Such measures are especially important in underserved communities, where residents often face high crime rates, dangerous traffic patterns, and unsafe sidewalks.

The resources below, from RWJF grantees and partners, highlight recent efforts to identify the most promising solutions for promoting physical activity in communities.

Childhood Obesity Policy Priorities

From the New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids

Renovating Northgate Park in Camden, NJ

"We want to see kids and families active." The New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids helped to rennovate Camden's Northgate Park, where residents can now use the new playground and participate in activities like tennis, volleyball, and cycling.

Watch the video

From Active Living Research

Do All Children Have Places to be Active?

Children who live in communities of color and lower-income communities are more likely to live in neighborhoods that do not support physical activity.

Read the brief

From Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities

A Healthier Park

Chicago's healthy improvements to Humbolt Park include installing community gardens and healthy vending machines, and improving pedestrian access to parks.

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From Salud America!

Physical Activity, Overweight and Obesity Among Latino Youth

Transportation issues, safety concerns, and lack recreational opportunities are some of the factors that prevent Latino youths from being active and encourage sedentary behaviors.

Read the brief

From Active Living Research

Promoting Physical Activity Through the Shared Use of School and Community Recreational Resources

Shared use of school and community recreational facilities are a cost-effective way to promote physical activity in a community.

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3 p.m. to Bedtime: Crunch Time for Children and Obesity

Crunch Time: Challenges and Solutions

A poll reveals that many parents face a variety of barriers to helping their children lead healthy lives, especially during the "crunch time" from 3 p.m. to bedtime.

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Childhood Obesity Program Area

RWJF is committed to tackling one of the most urgent threats to the health of our children and families—childhood obesity. Our goal is to reverse the childhood obesity epidemic by 2015.

How Does Federal Funding Impact Infrastucture for Biking and Walking?

October 22, 2010 | Program Result Report

Researchers from the University of California, Davis, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences analyzed spending of federal funds for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure across metropolitan regions nationwide and conducted case studies.

The Path to Active Living

December 1, 2009 | Journal Article

This article examines the work of the Somerville Active Living by Design Partnership. The authors report on the partnership between Active Living by Design and community organizations and assess the key successes and challenges of the project.

Active Living by Design featured in a Special Supplement of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine

December 11, 2009 | Journal Article

This special issue of the AJPM features research from RWJF's Active Living by Design (ALbD) program and its 15 community partnerships.

Active Living by Design

February 4, 2013 | Program Result Report

From 2001 to 2009, 25 community partnerships across the country pursued projects designed to revamp the built environment and change public policies to make physical activity part of everyday life.

Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities

February 17, 2012 | Program Result Report

In Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities, partnerships in 49 communities nationwide are changing local policies and revamping the physical environment to foster healthy living and prevent childhood obesity.

Changing Policies and the Physical Environment So Children and Families Can Eat Well and Move More

February 14, 2012 | Story

A profile of Sarah Strunk, MHA, director of Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities.

Fitness with Partnerships

January 1, 2010 | Story

The residents of Lauderdale Lakes, Florida have taken an active role in the development of major public health projects. The city is using a broad strategy, leveraging all of its resources to improve the health of its citizens.

Evaluation of Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities: Supporting Community Action to Prevent Childhood Obesity

February 21, 2010 | Evaluation

Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities works to implement healthy eating and active living policy- and environmental-change initiatives that can support healthier communities for children and families across the United States.

Program Promotes the Greening of New Jersey for Bicyclists, Walkers

December 1, 2004 | Program Result Report

The Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions, a nonprofit organization that supports more than 300 environmental commissions in the state, developed and implemented a program to educate New Jersey municipalities about the benefits of biking and walking.