What do adults want in parks? A qualitative study using walk-along interviews Veitch, Jenny, Biggs, Nicole, Deforche, B and Timperio, Anna 2022, What do adults want in parks? A qualitative study using walk-along interviews, BMC Public Health, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 1-11, doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-13064-5. Attached Files Name Description MIMEType Size Downloads Title What do adults want in parks? A qualitative study using walk-along interviews Author(s) Veitch, Jenny orcid.org/0000-0001-8962-0887 Biggs, Nicole Deforche, B orcid.org/0000-0002-8773-5012 Timperio, Anna Journal name BMC Public Health Volume number 22 Issue number 1 Article ID 753 Start page 1 End page 11 Total pages 11 Publisher BMC Place of publication London, Eng. Publication date 2022 ISSN 1471-2458 1471-2458 Keyword(s) Adults ASSOCIATIONS Design GREEN SPACES IMPACT Life Sciences & Biomedicine Park features Physical activity PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY Public, Environmental & Occupational Health Science & Technology Social interaction Summary Abstract Background Parks provide opportunities for physical activity and social interaction and are critical for enhancing public health. It is therefore important to better understand the needs and preferences of park features among adults to help park designers to create parks that optimise use. This qualitative study provided an in-depth examination of factors and characteristics that influence visitation, park-based physical activity, and social interaction among adults (19–64 years). We also explored perceptions of parks and park use and impacts of COVID on park usage and needs. Methods Participants (n = 27, 40.4 years [+ 11.9], 70% female) were interviewed from 2017 to 2020 while walking through one of eight diverse parks located in varying socioeconomic areas of metropolitan Melbourne, Australia. Participants were prompted to discuss their experiences, opinions and preferences regarding park features. All interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using NVivo 12 software. Results Park features and characteristics highly valued for visitation related to aesthetics and atmosphere, including trees, gardens, spaciousness, and water features. Features most valued for physical activity included walking and bike tracks, basketball rings, nice aesthetics, and sports walls. Features most valued for social interaction included seating and tables, and picnic/barbecue areas. Conclusions This study highlights features and characteristics that may be important to prioritise, to encourage active and social park visits among adults. This evidence will help policy and decision makers, urban planners, landscape architects, and local, state, and national government organisations to create parks that support adults to lead healthy and active lives. Future research should examine the relative importance of the features identified in this study to inform future park design/redesign. Language eng DOI 10.1186/s12889-022-13064-5 Field of Research 1117 Public Health and Health Services HERDC Research category C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal Free to Read? Yes Persistent URL http://hdl.handle.net/10536/DRO/DU:30167004 Document type: Journal Article Collections: Faculty of Health School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences Open Access Collection Related Links Link Description Link to full-text (open access)   Connect to published version Go to link with your DU access privileges   Author URL Go to link with your DU access privileges   Connect to Elements publication management system Go to link with your DU access privileges     Unless expressly stated otherwise, the copyright for items in DRO is owned by the author, with all rights reserved. Every reasonable effort has been made to ensure that permission has been obtained for items included in DRO. If you believe that your rights have been infringed by this repository, please contact drosupport@deakin.edu.au. Versions Version Filter Type Tue, 26 Apr 2022, 08:23:38 EST Tue, 26 Apr 2022, 16:24:44 EST Sat, 07 May 2022, 06:04:29 EST Tue, 07 Jun 2022, 10:51:38 EST Tue, 07 Jun 2022, 10:52:38 EST Tue, 07 Jun 2022, 10:54:28 EST Mon, 27 Jun 2022, 12:37:10 EST Filtered Full Citation counts:   Cited 1 times in TR Web of Science Cited 0 times in Scopus Search Google Scholar Access Statistics: 32 Abstract Views, 0 File Downloads  -  Detailed Statistics Created: Tue, 26 Apr 2022, 08:23:38 EST