Making public spaces work harder to move kids and adults in low-income neighborhoods
Official title: Contextually responsive implementation of place-activation interventions for promoting physical activity in low-income urban communities
Funded at University of Texas at Austin · NIH-11453722 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A grants-funded plan to test how improving parks and public spaces can help kids and adults in low-income urban areas become 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 start | September 18, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $273,480 |
| NIH project number | 3R01MD019155-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11453722 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are residents of low-income urban neighborhoods, including adults and children who have limited opportunities for leisure-time physical activity.
✕Less likely to help
Some individuals may not experience immediate changes in activity levels depending on personal circumstances and preferences.
What this research studies
This project will study how to spread and apply place-activation strategies in Hispanic communities in U.S. cities, using a real-world program from Mexico as a natural comparison. Researchers will examine how to adapt and implement these public-space improvements to encourage regular physical activity among adults and youths. The study emphasizes cost-effective actions and practical steps to ensure communities can benefit from better recreational spaces. Results could guide future efforts to reduce inactivity-related health problems in urban, underserved populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could lead to more effective use of public spaces to increase physical activity and improve health in low-income urban communities.
How similar studies have gone: Past place-activation approaches have shown promise, but this study tests a novel international-disaster model in a U.S. Hispanic urban context.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Salvo, Deborah — University of Texas at Austin
- Study coordinator: Salvo, Deborah
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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.