Play Across Boston—Unequal Opportunities for Youths in Boston to Participate in Sports and Physical Activity Programs

Harvard University: Prevention Research Center on Nutrition and Physical Activity

Topics:
Healthy Youth | Nutrition & Physical Activity for Youth

In 1997, opportunities for after-school physical activities for youths living in Boston were reported as one-third those for youths in the local suburban communities. In collecting data to help plan improvements, researchers assessed physical activity resources and facilities for youths in Boston and found further disparities in access and participation by sex and by race or ethnicity. Boys are twice as likely as girls to participate in sports and physical activity programs. The opportunities for participation are fewer and the level of participation is lower for African American and Hispanic youths than for white youths. The study also found that playground quality and the number of sports and recreation facilities vary across the city’s neighborhoods. The researchers are now working with branches of city government and community organizations to increase physical activity opportunities inside and outside the school environment, and to provide opportunities for physical activity equally throughout the city.

 

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