Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Modifying the built environment by improving parks is potentially a long term and viable way to increase physical activity among people. In spite of considerable investment in parks and park renovations, little research evidence exists internationally examining whether improving amenities increases park use and park-based physical activity. This study is a natural experiment that aims to find out whether park improvement increases overall park usage, park-based physical activity and active travel to and from the park in the intervention compared with the control (comparator) park over a two-year period and to identify which specific aspects of the park refurbishment attracts park visitors and encourages park users to be more active.
Who can participate?
Adult residents aged over 18 years living within 5 km of Brimbank and Westerfolds parks in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; families with children aged 2-15 years attending pre-school, primary school or secondary schools within 3 km of Brimbank and Westerfolds parks; and users of Brimbank and Westerfolds parks may participate in this study.
What does the study involve?
Local residents who participate would need to complete a survey in April-May 2015. Park users who participate would need to complete a park intercept survey in April-May 2014 and/or April-May 2015. The intervention park (Brimbank Park) is a large regional park (329 hectares) located in a low socio-economic status (SES) area north-east of Melbourne, Australia. The control park (Westerfolds Park) is a regional park (120 hectares) located in a high SES area in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. Multiple methodologies to find out the impact of the park renovation are being employed including: surveys of local residents living nearby the two parks, direct observations of park users, intercept surveys with park users, and electronic monitoring of path usage and car traffic within the parks. Initial measures were conducted in April-May 2013.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There are no perceived risks to participants.
Where is the study run from?
Brimbank Park and Westerfolds park, both in Melbourne, Australia.
When is study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
The park renovation is scheduled for September 2013-February 2014 and follow-up measures are planned for April-May 2014 and April-May 2015.
Who is funding the study?
This study is funded by the Australian Research Council, Australia.
Who is the main contact?
Dr Jenny Veitch
jenny.veitch@deakin.edu.au
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Dr Jenny Veitch
ORCID ID
Contact details
Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research
Deakin University
221 Burwood Highway
Burwood
3125
Australia
+61 (0)3 9251 7723
jenny.veitch@deakin.edu.au
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
N/A
Study information
Scientific title
A natural experiment examining the impact of park refurbishment in one park on park use and park-based physical activity among park users and local residents compared with a control park
Acronym
REVAMP
Study hypothesis
REVAMP (Recording and EValuating Activity in a Modified Park) is a natural experiment examining the impact of the refurbishment of a large regional park (Brimbank Park) located in an area of low socio-economic status (SES) of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Specifically the three main research objectives are to:
1. Examine whether park improvement increases overall park usage in the intervention park compared with the control park.
2. Examine whether park improvement increases the number of local residents engaging in park-based physical activity and active travel to and from the park in the intervention compared with the control park.
3. Identify the specific aspects of the park refurbishment that attract visitors to the park and encourage park users to be more active.
Hypotheses:
Over the course of the intervention (park refurbishment) and follow up, in comparison with the control group:
1. Park usage in the intervention park will increase.
2. Parks users at the intervention park will engage in increased park-based physical activity and active travel to and from the park.
3. Aspects of the park refurbishment that attract visitors to the intervention park and encourage them to be more active will be clearly defined.
Ethics approval
1. Deakin University Human Research Ethics Committee (HEAG-H 46_2012)
2. Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (2012_001790)
3. The Catholic Education Office (GE11/0009 1850)
Study design
Repeated cross-sectional study conducted in two settings
Primary study design
Observational
Secondary study design
Cross sectional study
Trial setting
Community
Trial type
Quality of life
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Health promotion for adults and children focusing on promoting physical activity in parks and active travel to parks and reducing sedentary behaviour.
Intervention
The refurbishment of Brimbank Park commenced in October 2013 and is expected to be complete by February 2014. It will involve the installation of an innovative play space (>$1 million) suitable for children of all ages and abilities. This circumstance provided a rare opportunity to undertake a natural experiment, to observe changes that occur in a population before and after the park environment has been altered. Whilst the redevelopment will focus on the installation of a play space for children it is important to assess the broader impact of the refurbishment on parents, families, adults and older adults.
The control park is Westerfolds Park.
Intervention type
Other
Phase
Not Applicable
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Data collection will occur at baseline, 12 months (3 months after intervention completed), 24 months (15 months after intervention completed). All measures will be completed at both parks and at all time points (except for the resident survey which will only be conducted at baseline and 24 months).
1. Park usage and park-based physical activity:
Park usage will be assessed at the intervention and control parks via multiple methodologies:
1.1. Observations of park users will be conducted using the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC). This instrument is based on momentary time sampling and involves undertaking systematic observations (scans) of each participant within the park at a particular time on specified days. The observations will record the number of park users and the activity level they are engaged in.
1.2. Intercept surveys with park users will be conducted to examine frequency of park visitation and park-based physical activity. Face-to-face intercept interviews will be completed with English-speaking adult park users on days when observations are conducted. Adults with children will also respond to items regarding their child's park use.
1.3. Local resident surveys with will assess park visitation over the past 3 months and activity levels engaged in when at the park. This survey will be completed by adults and adults with children will also proxy-report items about their child's park use.
1.4. Electronic monitoring of path usage and car traffic will be undertaken to record the number of park users walking and cycling on specified paths and the number of cars entering the parks
2. Active travel to and from the park:
Active travel to and from the park will be assessed via the resident survey and park intercept survey
3. Aspects of the park refurbishment that attract visitors to the intervention park and encourage them to be more active. This will be assessed via the resident survey and park intercept survey.
Secondary outcome measures
Resident survey measures:
1. Sociodemographic characteristics :
Standard demographic and socio-economic information will be collected by self and proxy report. Age, sex, marital status, educational attainment, postcode, country of birth, family structure (e.g. siblings, number of people living in household), and dog ownership will be collected in the adult survey, child's age and sex will be proxy reported.
2. Physical activity:
Adults' transportation and leisure time physical activity and time spent sitting will be self-reported using validated measures. Child's time spent outdoors will be assessed using a previously validated proxy-report measure. Child's frequency of meeting physical activity and screen time recommendations will be proxy-reported using validated measures.
3. Neighbourhood social and environmental influences on park use:
A range of items examining perceptions of parks and features important for physical activity, neighbourhood safety, violence, crime, attractiveness, walkability, social norms, social trust and cohesion will be examined. These measures have been previously developed and have acceptable psychometric properties and predictive validity.
4. Biological and health-related measures:
Adults will self-report their height and weight, stress, depression and general health using validated scales
Overall trial start date
01/04/2013
Overall trial end date
01/12/2015
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
Participants will be:
1. Adult residents aged over 18 years living with 5 km of Brimbank and Westerfolds parks in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
2. Families with children aged 2-15 years attending pre-school, primary school or secondary schools within 3 km of Brimbank and Westerfolds parks
3. Visitors to Brimbank and Westerfolds Parks
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
Intercept survey (April-May 2014): 1000 participants; Intercept survey (April-May 2015): 1000 participants; Resident survey (April-May 2015): 5000 participants
Participant exclusion criteria
On ethical grounds there will be no exclusion criteria.
Recruitment start date
01/04/2013
Recruitment end date
01/12/2015
Locations
Countries of recruitment
Australia
Trial participating centre
Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research
Burwood
3125
Australia
Sponsor information
Organisation
Deakin University (Australia)
Sponsor details
221 Burwood Highway
Burwood
3125
Australia
-
jenny.veitch@deakin.edu.au
Sponsor type
University/education
Website
Funders
Funder type
Research council
Funder name
Australian Research Council (Australia) - Linkage Grant (LP120200396). This includes four partners: Parks Victoria, the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth), Brimbank City Council and City West Water.
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Not provided at time of registration
Intention to publish date
Participant level data
Not provided at time of registration
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list
2014 protocol in: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24924919
2015 results in: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26141112