IPARC faculty and students are engaged in research to understand how recreation, parks, and outdoor spaces contribute to physical activity in communities. Findings can inform policy-makers, park planning and design, and practitioners in community recreation programs, schools, senior centers, and more.

IPARC research projects have examined:

Parks

• Adult Use of Parks (Tampa, Chicago)
• Children’s Use of Neighborhood Parks (Durham, NC)
• Park Proximity and Park Use
• Built Park Environments and Physical Activity

Schools

• School Intramural Sport Study (Wake County, NC)
• Joint Use Facilities (Wake County, NC)

Community

• Park and Recreation Department’s Inclusion in NC Master Plans
• Walkability in “new urbanist” and suburban neighborhoods

Programming

• Health Impact of NC Senior Games
• Physical Activity in Summer Camps