Creating Healthy Play Spaces

Keshia M. Pollack, PhD, MPH

Understanding Why Public Health Matters

National Press Foundation
July 17, 2017
Presentation Outline

A little about me and my research

Importance of safety and injury

prevention

Research on Play Streets

2017,
2014, Johns
Johns Hopkins
Hopkins University.
University. All rights reserved.
All rights reserved.
For more information visit: https://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/overview/key_data.html
2017,
2014, Johns
Johns Hopkins
Hopkins University.
University. All rights reserved.
All rights reserved.
For more information visit: https://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/overview/key_data.html

2017,
2014, Johns
Johns Hopkins
Hopkins University.
University. All rights reserved.
All rights reserved.
 Injury Prevention Injury Treatment
Pre-event Event Acute Care Rehabilitation

Preventing injury Preventing injury or Minimizing severity Restoring optimum

causing events minimizing severity of outcome functioning
of injury

Reducing the Burden of Injury:Advancing Prevention and Treatment Richard J. Bonnie, Carolyn E. Fulco, Catharyn T. Liverman,
Editors; Committee on Injury Prevention and Control, Institute of Medicine, 1999
2017,
2014, Johns
Johns Hopkins
Hopkins University.
University. All rights reserved.
All rights reserved.
Injury Epidemiology

Leon Gordis: study of how

disease is distributed in populations
and the factors that influence or
determine this distribution.

Leon Robertson: study of how

disease [and injury]* is distributed in
populations and the factors that
influence or determine this
distribution.

2017,
2014, Johns
Johns Hopkins
Hopkins University.
University. All rights reserved.
All rights reserved.
My research.
Advancing policies that create safe and healthy
environments where people live, work, and play, and
when they travel

Injury prevention and safety

- Motor vehicle crashes and active transportation
- Occupational injuries
- Sports injuries
- Play/physical activity

Health in All Policies/Health Impact Assessments

- Focus on other sectors and their impacts on
health and equity

2017,
2014, Johns
Johns Hopkins
Hopkins University.
University. All rights reserved.
All rights reserved.
 Youth Physical Activity (PA)
Children ages 6-17 should get 60 minutes or more of PA
daily

PA helps develop healthy musculoskeletal tissues,

cardiovascular systems, and body weight, and
psychosocial benefits

How Physically Active Are Youth? Most recent estimates

are that:

Only 21.6% of 6 to 19-year-olds met daily guidelines

Only 27.1% of high school students met daily guidelines

https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/physicalactivity/facts.htm
2017,
2014, Johns
Johns Hopkins
Hopkins University.
University. All rights reserved.
All rights reserved.
One Important Barrier to PA
The way communities are designed has a great
influence on how active we are. When communities are
safe, well-maintained and have appealing scenery,
children and families are more likely to be active.
Unfortunately, many peopleespecially those at high
risk for obesitylive in communities that lack parks and
have high crime rates, dangerous traffic patterns and
unsafe sidewalks.
Active Living Research,
www.activelivingresearch.com

2017,
2014, Johns
Johns Hopkins
Hopkins University.
University. All rights reserved.
All rights reserved.
Creating safe places to play: Evaluating
play streets in diverse low-income rural
communities

Keshia M. Pollack, PhD, MPH

Rene Umstattd Meyer, PhD, MCHES, Co-PI, Baylor
University

2017,
2014, Johns
Johns Hopkins
Hopkins University.
University. All rights reserved.
All rights reserved.
 Background

Play is critical for child development

Benefits from outdoor play (positive impacts on stress,

social skills, and physical activity)

Many children lack access to safe and well-maintained

parks and playgrounds

Children in rural areas face additional barriers to

outdoor play

https://www.care.com/c/stories/4178/5-health-benefits-of-kids-playing-outside/
2017,
2014, Johns
Johns Hopkins
Hopkins University.
University. All rights reserved.
All rights reserved.
Background
Play Streets are temporary street closures that for a
specified time period create safe spaces for play
(closures can be recurring or episodic)

Create safe place for children to be physically active

without traffic safety concerns

Have the potential to build a culture around and demand

for safe play, as well as enhance neighborhoods by
building partnerships and increasing social cohesion

Have occurred in Chicago, Seattle, Baton Rouge, San

Francisco, and New York City

2017,
2014, Johns
Johns Hopkins
Hopkins University.
University. All rights reserved.
All rights reserved.
Background

We recently completed a systematic literature review to

identify successful methods and results of Play Streets

Peer-reviewed articles published worldwide, in English,

through October 2016. Articles were included that
documented a free-to-access Play Street, or Open
Street/ Ciclova that included a specific play area

Abstracts reviewed from 143 articles, 23 articles met the

inclusion criteria

2017,
2014, Johns
Johns Hopkins
Hopkins University.
University. All rights reserved.
All rights reserved.
Background
Key findings from our literature review:

Play Streets occurred when school was not in session in

the mornings and/or afternoons, were attended by
people living close by, and increased physical activity
overall and at the event.

Play Streets have positive social and environmental

impacts for the neighborhood

Limited information on specifics of implementation and

dearth of evaluation data

2017,
2014, Johns
Johns Hopkins
Hopkins University.
University. All rights reserved.
All rights reserved.
Play Streets Study
Built on the PlayStreets
Chicago program

2017,
2014, Johns
Johns Hopkins
Hopkins University.
University. All rights reserved.
All rights reserved.
2017,
2014, Johns
Johns Hopkins
Hopkins University.
University. All rights reserved.
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Implementing Play Streets
Four racially and ethnic diverse low-income, rural
communities

Provided small grants ($6,000) to 4 community

organizations to implement 4 Play Streets during
summer 2017

At least $1,000 must be used for permanent equipment

(balls, hula hoops, etc.). Remaining funds to rent
equipment, food (encouraged healthy snacks and
water), etc.

Our team also provides technical support

2017,
2014, Johns
Johns Hopkins
Hopkins University.
University. All rights reserved.
All rights reserved.
Research Methods
Children (entering elementary or middle school) and
adults/guardians

Pedometers to measure steps during Play Street

Conducting observations using SOPARC: System for

Observing Play and Recreation in Communities

Surveys administered to children and adults/guardians

(self administered)

Interviews and focus groups with implementation teams

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2014, Johns
Johns Hopkins
Hopkins University.
University. All rights reserved.
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To date

Sixteen Play Streets occurring between June 24 and

August 24

To date, 5/16 Play Streets (2 in NC, 2 OK, 1 MD) have

occurred

Recruited 100+ people, mostly children

2017,
2014, Johns
Johns Hopkins
Hopkins University.
University. All rights reserved.
All rights reserved.
2017,
2014, Johns
Johns Hopkins
Hopkins University.
University. All rights reserved.
All rights reserved.
2017,
2014, Johns
Johns Hopkins
Hopkins University.
University. All rights reserved.
All rights reserved.
2017,
2014, Johns
Johns Hopkins
Hopkins University.
University. All rights reserved.
All rights reserved.
Initial Learnings
Two ways to create safe places for kids to play:
- Creating new space (using street for play)
- Creating programming space

Kids are being very active, possible differences by

gender (maybe more about activity, except for bounce
house, which is an equalizer!)

Parents are pretty sedentary, need dedicated

programming

Potential impacts on social cohesion, perceived safety,

and community connections

2017,
2014, Johns
Johns Hopkins
Hopkins University.
University. All rights reserved.
All rights reserved.
Next steps
Complete data collection Summer 2017

Post Play Streets focus groups with implementation

teams, parents/guardians, children

Individual interviews with key partners

Writing papers for the peer-reviewed literature

Will develop a toolkit for communities

Follow-up with implementation teams regarding plans

for Play Streets in Summer 2018
2017,
2014, Johns
Johns Hopkins
Hopkins University.
University. All rights reserved.
All rights reserved.
Some Concluding Thoughts
Why injury prevention? Whats so great about injury
prevention?

Big problem in the United States and globally

Available solutions ready for implementation,

translation and dissemination to reduce health
disparities and improve population health

Multiple disciplines involved in applied, interdisciplinary

research and practice from prevention to acute care and
rehabilitation we all have a stake in prevention

2017,
2014, Johns
Johns Hopkins
Hopkins University.
University. All rights reserved.
All rights reserved.
Some Concluding Thoughts
Why public health matters?

Public health is everywhere

Health disparities and inequities

Solutions exist

We can improve population health and reduce

disparities through research, policy, and practice

2017,
2014, Johns
Johns Hopkins
Hopkins University.
University. All rights reserved.
All rights reserved.
Thank you!

Keshia M. Pollack
410-502-6272
kpollac1@jhu.edu
@DR_KMP

2017,
2014, Johns
Johns Hopkins
Hopkins University.
University. All rights reserved.
All rights reserved.