Making parks and public places easier and safer for people in low-income cities to be active
Contextually responsive implementation of place-activation interventions for promoting physical activity in low-income urban communities
This project will help low-income city neighborhoods renovate and use parks and plazas so people—especially those with diabetes or at risk—can be more physically active.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas at Austin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Austin, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11194978 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a resident's view, the team works with local leaders and neighbors to make public spaces safer, more useful, and full of activity programs. They will use an existing Mexican policy that is funding renovations to try different community-driven ways to get governments, organizations, and residents involved. The study combines interviews, surveys, observations, and counts of who uses the spaces across up to ten cities to learn what helps places become active. Results will also be used to guide similar efforts for U.S.-based Latin American communities.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are adults living in low-income urban neighborhoods (in selected Mexican cities or U.S.-based Latin American communities) who have limited access to safe places for physical activity or who are at risk for or living with diabetes or obesity.
Not a fit: People who live outside the selected cities (for example in rural areas), who cannot access public spaces due to severe disability, or who need individualized clinical medical care rather than community-based activity supports are less likely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could create more usable local spaces and programs that help people move more and reduce risks from obesity and diabetes.
How similar studies have performed: Place-activation approaches have previously increased physical activity in urban settings, but applying and comparing multisector engagement methods across multiple low-income Mexican cities is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Austin, United States
- University of Texas at Austin — Austin, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Salvo, Deborah — University of Texas at Austin
- Study coordinator: Salvo, Deborah
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.