The Effects of Neighborhood Enhancements on Children's Physical Activity

Objectives: We evaluated whether significant changes made to the built environment impact children's physical activity levels. Methods: We carried out a “natural experiment” in a low-income, minority neighborhood in St. Louis, Missouri. Families with children 5-14 years old from an experimental and a comparison neighborhood completed a survey assessing parental perceptions of child physical activity behaviors before and after significant built environmental improvements. Results: Parents reported no significant change in children's physical activity levels in either neighborhood. Conclusions: Enhancements to the built environment have been recommended; however, results suggest additional efforts beyond built environment improvements may be needed to increase children's activity levels, especially among low-income, minority populations.