The Effects of Play Streets on Social and Community Connectedness in Rural Communities

M. Renée Umstattd Meyer, Tyler Prochnow, Andrew C. Pickett, Cynthia K. Perry, Christina N. Bridges Hamilton, Christiaan G. Abildso and Keshia M. Pollack Porter
Additional contact information
M. Renée Umstattd Meyer: Department of Public Health, Baylor University Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, Waco, TX 78628, USA
Tyler Prochnow: Department of Public Health, Baylor University Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, Waco, TX 78628, USA
Andrew C. Pickett: Division of Kinesiology & Sport Management, School of Education Research Center, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA
Cynthia K. Perry: School of Nursing, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
Christina N. Bridges Hamilton: Department of Public Health, Baylor University Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, Waco, TX 78628, USA
Christiaan G. Abildso: Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, West Virginia University School of Public Health, Morgantown, WV 25606, USA
Keshia M. Pollack Porter: Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 19, 1-15

Abstract: Promoting physical activity (PA) is a long-standing public health initiative to improve overall health and wellbeing. Innovative strategies such as Play Streets, temporary activation of public spaces to provide safe places for active play, are being adopted in urban and rural communities to increase PA among children. As part of these strategies, aspects of social and community connectedness may be strengthened. This study analyzes focus groups and interviews from rural Play Street implementation team members ( n = 14) as well as adults ( n = 7) and children ( n = 25) who attended Play Streets hosted in rural North Carolina, Maryland, Oklahoma, and Texas to better understand the added benefits of Play Streets in community connectedness. Overall, elements of social support and social cohesion are mentioned most frequently with instrumental and conditional support; however, concepts of social capital, collective-efficacy, and social identification are also presented. Participants expressed that Play Streets provided more than just PA; they provided opportunities to access and share resources, build perceptions of safety and trust in the community, and develop relationships with others. Fostering community connection through Play Streets may reduce health inequities in rural communities by building community resilience. Community-based PA programming that enhance and capitalize on community connectedness could be effective ways to improving the overall health and wellbeing of residents.

Keywords: social environment; community-based interventions; physical activity; active play; community connectedness; health externalities; social determinants of health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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