Activating public spaces in peripheral urban neighborhoods to boost physical activity

Contextually Responsive Implementation of Place-Activation Interventions for Promoting Physical Activity in Low-Income Urban Communities

Not applicable Interventional University of Texas at Austin · NCT06999382

This project will test whether active support for local leaders and organizations in peripheral urban neighborhoods helps them adopt and run proven public-space activities that increase residents' physical activity.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment510 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Texas at Austin Academic / other
Locations1 site (Cuernavaca, Morelos)
Trial IDNCT06999382 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a hybrid Type III cluster-randomized trial that pairs 30 peripheral urban neighborhoods and randomizes 15 to an active dissemination-and-implementation intervention and 15 to a passive comparison. Each neighborhood contributes about 17 implementation partners (510 total)—local government representatives, NGO staff, and community leaders—who receive capacity-building and one year of implementation support in the intervention arm. Primary outcomes are reach, adoption, and implementation fidelity of evidence-based place-activation interventions; secondary outcomes measure real-world effectiveness using direct observations and intercept surveys of public open space users. The design tests whether targeted implementation support accelerates uptake and improves the quality and reach of place-based activations in recently improved public spaces.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal participants are adult local stakeholders and community leaders in selected peripheral urban neighborhoods who have authority over or engagement with recently improved public open spaces.

Not a fit: Individuals who are not local stakeholders, neighborhoods without recent public-space improvements, or residents who do not use local open spaces are unlikely to receive direct benefit.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, communities could adopt and sustain evidence-based public-space activities more quickly, increasing local residents' physical activity.

How similar studies have performed: Place-activation interventions have previously increased physical activity in some settings, but active, paired dissemination-and-implementation trials of this scale in Mexican urban peripheries are relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria for Implementation Partners (main sample for primary Outcomes):

* Adults 18 years of age or older
* Stakeholders (government or nongovernmental organization representatives in sectors such as health, education, air quality, economic development, urban planning, transportation, parks and recreation, public safety, etc.) or community leaders of peripheral urban neighborhoods of study cities (10 possible cities in Mexico: Colima, Merida, Monterrey, Toluca, Mexico City, Guadalajara, Tijuana, Leon, Cuernavaca, Tapachula).

Exclusion Criteria for Implementation Partners (main sample of primary outcomes):

* Not meeting any of the inclusion criteria.

Inclusion Criteria for Intercept Survey Participants (for secondary outcomes):

* 18 years or older
* Located within the confines of the public open space being assessed in a study neighborhood at time of direct observation assessments.

Exclusion Criteria for Intercept Survey Participants (for secondary outcomes):

* Not meeting any of the inclusion criteria.

Where this trial is running

Cuernavaca, Morelos

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Uptake of Systematic Review Evidencedissemination and implementationplace-activationurban healthbuilt environmentphysical activitycontextual adaptations
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.