HOW CAN RECREATION CENTERS AND LOCAL

PARKS DRAW GREATER CROWDS? WHICH CITIES

AND COMMUNITIES HAVE THE MOST SUCCESSFUL BIKE SHARE OR OTHER

FITNESS-ENHANCING PROGRAMS AND WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO MAKE

THESE GROW

NATIONWIDE?

Genevieve Fridlund Dunton, Ph.D, MPH

Assistant Professor

Department of Preventive Medicine

University of Southern California

HOW CAN RECREATION CENTERS AND LOCAL PARKS DRAW GREATER

CROWDS?

Offer free and low-cost programming (e.g., classes, organized activities, events)

Improve quality of facilities (e.g., remove litter/graffiti, upgrade play areas)

Offer shaded areas Improve safety (e.g., lighting,

surveillance) Plant more trees and increase

vegetation Offer amenities for all age groups and

ability levels (e.g., adult fitness zones)

WHICH CITIES AND COMMUNITIES HAVE THE MOST SUCCESSFUL BIKE

SHARE PROGRAMS?

Denver, CO : B-Cycle — 500 bikes, 50 stations, 102,000 rides in 7 months

Minneapolis, MN : Nice Ride — 700 bikes, 65 stations, 100,000 trips in 7 months 

Chicago, IL : B-Cycle — 100 bikes, 6 stations

Washington DC : Capital Bikeshare — 1,100 bikes, 110 stations

Source: http://www.bikesbelong.org/resources/stats-and-research/research/bike-sharing-in-the-united-states/

WHICH CITIES HAVE OTHER FITNESS-ENHANCING PROGRAMS? Trust for Public Land's Fitness Zones®

(i.e., Adult Playgrounds) in 29 public locations in Los Angeles

Source: http://www.tpl.org/what-we-do/where-we-work/california/los-angeles-county/fitness-zones.html

WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO MAKE THESE GROW NATIONWIDE?

Buy-in and support from local policy-makers, community leaders, and business owners.

Media attention (e.g., TV, radio) Social media endorsement (e.g.,

Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Yelp) Partnerships with local organizations,

non-profits, and schools. Research-based evidence demonstrating

effectiveness