Resources

Outdoor fitness parks can play an important role in improving the overall health of a community. Access to well-designed parks and fitness spaces within a 10-minute walk of one’s home not only benefits a person’s physical and mental health but strengthens bonds between neighbors and across communities.

FitLot’s mission is to create stronger, healthier, and move active communities. We believe fitness parks can help address inequitable access to fitness opportunities that ultimately leads to health disparities.

Below, find helpful links to support you in your park evaluation and planning process, including helpful research and pandemic-related information. When you’re ready, download the Plan Your FitLot Guide and get started.

Covid-19 Information Links

A Stronger Community

Healthy Communities from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: “In our communities, we all should be surrounded by conditions that enable us to live the healthiest life possible, such as access to healthy food, quality schools, stable housing, good jobs with fair pay, and safe places to exercise and play.”
Three pillars of social equity from the National Recreation and Parks Association: “True to the very philosophy of public parks and recreation is the idea that all people – no matter the color of their skin, age, income level or ability – have access to programs, facilities, places and spaces that make their lives and communities great.”
Life expectancy disparities from the Institute for Health Metrics and evaluation: “This new research suggests that policies and programs that promote healthy behaviors could be the most effective in reducing health inequalities, but that socioeconomic status and other related factors should not be ignored.”
500 Cities Project from the CDC, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the CDC Foundation: “The purpose of the 500 Cities Project is to provide city- and census tract-level small area estimates for chronic disease risk factors, health outcomes, and clinical preventive service use for the largest 500 cities in the United States.”

Livability & Health Equity

The Healthy People 2020 report discusses ways to foster social and physical environments that promote good health for all. Here are additional resources on wellness and livability factors in our communities:

The AARP Livability Index helps to assess walkability and lifestyle-related diseases.
The American Fitness Index was updated for 2020 and features city-level data
The 500 Cities Project provides “city- and census tract-level small area estimates for chronic disease risk factors, health outcomes, and clinical preventive service use…”

From The Data Center:

“Health equity is the attainment of the highest level of health and well-being for all people. It requires efforts to ensure all people have full and equal access to opportunities that enable them to lead healthy lives.

Conversely, health disparities are avoidable differences in health that are the result of unequal distributions of social, economic, and environmental factors.

Examples include wealth, income, safe housing, quality education and quality health care – all of which influence health from an early age.”