Assessing the Impact of Changes to the Built Environment on Physical Activity in a Public Housing Development

University of Washington: Health Promotion Research Center

Topics:
Community Health | Nutrition & Physical Activity for Adults

A team of public health researchers, epidemiologists, physicians, urban planners, community organizers, and public policy analysts will take advantage of a community redevelopment project to assess the effect of the built environment on physical activity. High Point public housing in West Seattle, Washington, is being changed from 716 units laid out in a suburban-style street plan with cul-de-sacs to a health-promoting community of 1,600 new housing units. The community will include open spaces and trails; wide sidewalks; separation of sidewalks from motorized vehicles; small parks and gathering spaces to promote social interaction, to promote outdoor activity, and to serve as walking destinations; and building design and orientation to promote social interaction, defensible spaces, and physical safety.

Before the redevelopment, 155 households were surveyed during the summer of 2005 to determine residents’ perceptions of their built and social environments, general physical activity, and self-perceived health. A follow-up survey will be conducted with at least 105 of the original survey participants to assess their perceptions of the new community. Similar surveys will be conducted with an additional 100 participants, moving into New High Point in the winter of 2008, both before they move in and one year after.

Researchers will assess changes in perceptions and their relation to participants’ levels of walking, general physical activity, and self-perceived health before and after moving to New High Point. Geographic information system (GIS) data will be used by researchers to describe features of the built environments that may influence changes in physical activity between people living in Old and New High Point, those who moved away, and those new to the development. Researchers will observe the physical activity of residents to supplement and validate survey information.

 

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