Engaging Park Staff in Research Using SOPARC

Background/Purpose: This segment describes a community collaboration that used SOPARC to study park environments in Southern Nevada. The model for engaging and training community stakeholders to participate in the research process and the results of the study will be discussed. Method: We trained 22 county and city park personnel to use SOPARC to examine use and patron physical activity levels in 6 neighborhood parks located in low socio-economic areas of Las Vegas and 4 trails during three temperature seasons over a period of one year. The development of the collaboration, training observers, the logistics of using paid staff time, and issues central to the data collection and management will be discussed. Analysis/Results: Training city and country park staff to collect data using SOPARC provided park personnel with a reliable tool in which to assess park environments under their administrative supervision. The collaborative model has provided university researchers with unprecedented visibility of a study identified as high importance by state and local policy makers. Preliminary data have been presented to the Nevada Legislature, the Statewide Council for Fitness and Wellness, and the Nevada Childhood Obesity Policy Convening. Conclusions: Park staff can be trained to use SOPARC to evaluate park characteristics and user characteristics including their physical activity levels. These data can inform park renovation, social marketing, and programming initiatives. The OPEN project also illustrates the value of doing collaborative work and highlights the resulting potential for the translation of research into policy and/or environmental change.