Neighborhood parks can provide access to green space and programs that help youth and families be active. Our goal is to gather data about how families living near our study parks use the space and park programming.

Minneapolis, Minnesota:

• Bottineau Field Park and Recreation Center
• Bryant Square Park and Recreation Center
• East Phillips Park and Cultural and Community Center
• Farview Park and Recreation Center
• Folwell Park and Recreation Center
• Logan Park and Recreation Center
• North Commons Park and Recreation Center
• Powderhorn Park and Recreation Center

Saint Paul, Minnesota:

• El Rio Vista Recreation Center (Wellstone Community Center)
• Hancock Park and Recreation Center
• Hayden Heights Recreation Center
• Hazel Park and Recreation Center
• Highwood Hills Park and Recreation Center
• Jimmy Lee Park and Recreation Center (Oxford Community Center)
• Martin Luther King Recreation Center
• McDonough Park and Recreation Center
• Palace Park and Community Center
• Rice Park and Recreation Center
• West Minnehaha Park and Recreation Center
• Wilder Recreation Center

To participate in the PARKS study, you must:

1. Be a parent or caregiver of a child that is 6-12 years old at the time of enrollment
2. Live within 2 miles of a participating park in Minneapolis or Saint Paul
3. You do NOT need to be a park user or participant in park programs to be eligible

Please contact our research team to complete the full eligibility screening process.

Study participants will be asked to complete a few activities listed below over two years.

• A guided survey about physical activity – either in person at the local study park, or on Zoom
• Wear a physical activity counter on a belt for 7 days
• Be measured for height and weight

You will take a survey and/or wear your activity tracker a few times over the span of two years. You will wear the physical activity counter again after 6 months, one year and two years. Study staff will keep track and contact you when it is time for each activity.

Study staff will keep track and contact you when it’s time for each activity.

You will receive $20 each time you and your child complete the survey and $50 each time you and your child wear the activity counter for a 7-day period. This means that each measurement period can potentially pay participants $70. Participants that stay enrolled for two years can be compensated up to $290. Payments will be loaded on a debit card you will keep throughout the duration of the study.