This document summarizes an webinar on how parks and recreation agencies can integrate quality of life elements. It discusses how parks and recreation can address current challenges and provide crucial health opportunities. Specific innovations discussed include preventing health issues, addressing social and mental health needs, homelessness, transportation, resiliency, stormwater management, and overall public health. The webinar advocates for a systematic approach involving stakeholders, data collection, identifying gaps, and creating an action plan. Key recommendations are for recreation centers to serve as wellness hubs, improving active transportation and physical activity, improved nutrition, and increased social and health equity.

1. Innovations in Integrating
Quality of Life Elements
IPRA Webinar
May
2020
Teresa L. Penbrooke, PhD, MAOM, CPRE

2. Why Do We Need Parks and Recreation
as a Current QOL Solution?
 Reacting to stress and change
 Addressing current challenges
 Innovating methods for systems management practices
 Providing crucial health and wellness opportunities for all
populations in communities across the country
 Leveraging what we do beyond core traditional services

3. Why Parks and Recreation
As a Solution?
 Provide access to land and facilities for over 80% of Americans
 Facilitate opportunities to participate in active recreation (75%
within two miles)
 Provide crucial health and wellness opportunities for all
populations in communities across the country
 Affordable programming and managed access to outdoor spaces
can lead to a more active and healthier America

4. Specific
Innovations
Our Roles &
Opportunities
Preventive Health Provider
Social Engagement & Mental Health
Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Homelessness
Transportation Provider
Resiliency
Stormwater Management

5. Overall Public
Health and Wellness
Nutrition
Individual
Constitution,
Basic
Preferences,
Security, and
Living
Environment
Medical Care
Recreation
Cognitive, Social,
Physical, and
Spiritual Activities,
along with
facilities
P&R Fit in Overall Community Preventive Health Systems
Penbrooke, 2009
National Science Foundation, United States
Antarctic Program, Recreation and Wellness Study

6. Focus: What is Health Equity?
 Everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as
healthy as possible
 Removing obstacles - poverty, discrimination, and lack
of access to jobs, quality education, housing, safe
environment, and health care
 Based on human rights principles

7. Covid-19

8. Flora / Fauna
Wellbeing
&
Reduced
Stress
Community Spaces
P&R
Public Spaces
Open Spaces
Systems Approach to
relationships between access to public P&R
spaces and wellness
Attention restoration and ADD
Physical activity and social support
Adapted from EPA, 2014; Kuo, 2015; Saw, Lim, & Carrasco, 2015; Penbrooke, 2017; Sturm & Cohen, 2014

9. Preventive
Community
Health
P&R Agencies
& Strategies
Medical Care
and Public
Health
Agencies
Transportation
and Access Schools /
Education
Academic
Research &
Methods
Partners &
Providers
Physical
Activity &
Nutrition
Social &
Parental
Engagement
Public Safety
& Perception
of Safety
Modifiable
Factors
Spaces, Programs,
and Policies
Actors
Facilitating
Partnerships
and outcomes in
the Community
Modifying
Preventive PH
through P&R
Systems Thinking
Actions on all levels
(T.L. Penbrooke, 2017,
with M.B. Edwards, J.N.
Bocarro, K.A. Henderson,
& J.A. Hipp)

10. Evidence & Guiding Theory
Parks & Recreation (P&R) agencies can help improve Public Health (PH) through
various health factors:
• Increasing physical activity and improving nutrition
• Providing psychological and physical benefits from access to nature
• Facilitating social benefits and parental engagement
• Addressing health equity issues, transportation, and safety
• Addressing stress management, smoking, alcohol and drug consumption, etc.
Burns, 2016; Godbey & Mowen, 2010; Kuo, 2013; Sallis, Floyd, Rodriquez, & Saelens, 2012; Slater, Ewing,
Powell, Chaloupka, Johnston, & O’Malley, 2010; Penbrooke, 2017; Wells, 2013; Young, Ross, Kim, & Sturts, 2013

11. • Role of Parks and Recreation in Health
• Funded P&R HC Plans
Integrating P&R and Health
Into Systems & Master Planning

12. Five Elements for Healthy Systems Analysis
Warrant for
Action
•Start inquiry
•Input information
•Create documents
•Start database
•Data transmission
•Warrant for
intervention
•Proposal for action
Community
Systems
• Convene
Stakeholders
• Intersections
• Collaborations
• Partnerships
• Agreements
• Shared assets
• Negative
Markers
Policies, Laws &
Procedures
• Laws (Fed,
State, County,
City)
• Ordinances
• Agency
regulations
• Agency policies
& practices
Fiscal
Resources &
Distribution
• Identify
funding paths
• Determine
allocation
patterns/%
• Identify
sources of $$
• Document use
of $$$
• Identify ROI
Inventory of
Assets &
Affordances
• Assets
• Built
• Natural
• Affordances
• Formal
programs
• Services
Why?
Who?
Impact?
Is the
community
working?
What
influences
AL?
What
funds?
For
what?
What do
we have?

13. Desired Healthy Community Master Plan Outcomes
Strong community
representation
Equity focus
May have sub-areas with
strong differences

14. $37,526 $34,561
$53,765 $51,885
$0
$10,000
$20,000
$30,000
$40,000
$50,000
$60,000
Southwest Southeast Northwest Northeast
MedianHousehold
Income
Gender Distribution
Average Age
Median Household Income
Detailed Demographics Analysis

15. Comprehensive Information Gathering & Engagement
Staff, Decision Makers, Stakeholders, and Public
• Virtual Mobile Optimized Engagement
• Open Public Forums
• General, Youth, and Senior Focus Groups
• Community-wide Random Mail/Online Survey
• Youth Activities and Nutrition Survey (YANS)
• Social Media
• Agency Staff & Decision Maker Forums
• Key HEAL Coalition & Partner Leadership Meetings
Mixed
methods
Approach

16. Priority of Health Factors for P&R
Multi-Attribute Utilities Technique (MAUT)
0.00
0.05
0.10
0.15
0.20
0.25
0.30
Nutrition regimen Social interaction Transportation
services
Physical activity Safety
Round 1 Round 2
© Kiboum Kim
MAUT
Analysis
Results from
Arlington
Heights Park
District, IL
Healthy
Communities
Project

17. Youth Activity and Nutrition Survey
Middle School Students
• Significant findings
• Nutrition – SSB & Breakfast frequencies
• Screen Time & Activities
• Perception of Safety
• Active Transportation for Youth
• Parental Support and Personal Modeling

18. Active
Transportation
and Systems
Planning

19. Component-Based
Methodology (CBM)
GIS Inventory and
LOS Analysis
(including walkability)
• Components
• Access
• Functionality
• Quality
• AEE
• Programs
(Floyd et al., 2015; Layton, 2016)

20. GRASP®Active Walkable Access Analysis
Pedestrian Barriers & Walkable Gap Identification

21. Disaster &
Climate
Resiliency

22. av
Operation Recreation Response
Preparedness
 Preparing
 Component-Based Inventories
 Willing to give and accept help
 Training
 Decision to Act
 Staffing ramp up
 Levels of Responsibility
 Communication
 EOC Guidelines

23. av
ORR Response
 During the Event
 CERT Team
 Mutual Aid
 Volunteer Corp
 Shelter management
 Asset management

24. av
ORR Recovery
 Following an Event
 Information and leadership to rebuild
and recover
 Re-Entry
 Meeting Points
 Assessments
 Resources available for assistance
 Re-assignment and management of affected lands

25. Stormwater
Management

26. Green
Infrastructure
for Cooling and
Carbon
Sequestration

27. Homelessness
& Transitional
Living
• Park Ambassadors & Public Safety integration
• Program management & positive activation
• Safe places day & night for all residents
• Access to showers/hygiene
• Nutrition programs
• Trash removal
• Hotlines and connections to partners

28. Virtual programming
Mobile Optimized Engagement
E-Sports
Video surveillance
Drones for delivery
Organic landscape management
Other
Current
Trends in
P&R

29. Creating an
Action Plan
Goals Objectives
Responsibility
Financial
Timing
Outcomes

30. Recommendations & Outcomes
Key Opportunities through Parks and Recreation
1. Recreation Centers as “wellness hubs” – for all residents
2. Improved active transportation and physical activity - more
connected and safer trails and sidewalks
3. Improved nutrition - partnered educational campaigns, policy
changes, and healthy food availability
4. Increased social and health equity - increased awareness and
participation from low income residents
5. Acknowledged Value of P&R for all we do

31. HOW P&R AGENCIES CAN INTEGRATE INNOVATIVE QOL
Step by Step “Toolkit” Approach
1. Convene staff, key stakeholders, and the public – FRAME & PARTNER
2. Collect community-specific information using valid methods
• Inventory and analysis of assets and programs available / participation / awareness
• Analysis of current policies, practices, financial, and allocation of resources
• Demographics, regional trends, alignment with national initiatives
• Document partnerships, current providers, and social networks
3. Determine Gaps – Culture? Programs? Assets? Social? Policies? Staff? $$?
4. Create an Action Plan / Logic Model for priorities – MESSAGING & ACTION
5. Report, communicate, and garner resources
6. Evaluate and repeat
CONCLUSIONS

32. Thank you for attending! Thoughts?
Teresa Penbrooke, PhD, MAOM, CPRE
TeresaP@GPRED.org
www.gpred.org www.greenplayllc.com