Parks, Trails, and Health: Resources

Park, Trail, and Greenway Infrastructure Interventions when Combined with Additional Interventions
Explains how to combine infrastructure interventions with additional interventions to increase physical activity. Also see: Costs and Benefits of Park, Trail, and Greenway Infrastructure Interventions

Active Communities Tool
Provides guidance for cross-sector teams to develop an action plan to improve built environments that promote physical activity. Module 5: Parks and Recreation Facilities helps assess plans, policies, environments, and resources that may affect facility access.

Community Park Audit Tool
Helps determine a park's potential to promote physical activity.

Improving Public Health Through Public Parks and Trails: Eight Common Measures
Includes ways to collect and use data for public health goals. Can be used at national, state, regional, and local levels.

Creating Parks and Public Spaces for People of All Ages: A Step-by-Step Guide
Presents how to collect data, evaluate opportunities, and generate ideas on how to increase the quality and quantity of parks and outdoor spaces nationwide.

Parks, Trails, and Health Workbook
Explains how to include public health factors in the development of a park or trail.

Accessibility Guidebook for Outdoor Recreation and Trails
Examines how to apply Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines and Forest Service Trail Accessibility Guidelines. Both are based on accessibility standards set by the Architectural Barriers Act for National Forest System facilities, routes, and features.

Awareness and the Use of Parks Report
Explores the role of public awareness in driving park and recreation usage. Presents a series of steps and a checklist to execute an awareness strategy.

SOPARC (System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities) Description and Procedures Manual
Proposes tool for gathering data on park usage, park users' physical activity levels and demographic information, and built environment features.