ParkIndex: Development of a standardized metric of park access for research and planning

Abstract Objective A lack of comprehensive and standardized metrics for measuring park exposure limits park-related research and health promotion efforts. This study aimed to develop and demonstrate an empirically-derived and spatially-represented index of park access (ParkIndex) that would allow researchers, planners, and citizens to evaluate the potential for park use for a given area. Methods Data used for developing ParkIndex were collected in 2010 in Kansas City, Missouri (KCMO). Adult study participants ( n = 891) reported whether they used a park within the past month, and all parks in KCMO were mapped and audited using ArcGIS 9.3 and the Community Park Audit Tool. Results Four park summary variables — distance to nearest park, the number of parks, amount of park space, and average park quality index within 1 mile were analyzed in relation to park use using logistic regression. Coefficients for significant park summary variables were used to create a raster surface (ParkIndex) representing the probability of park use for all 100 m × 100 m cells in KCMO. Two park summary variables were positively associated with park use — the number of parks and the average park quality index within 1 mile. The ParkIndex probability of park use across all cells in KCMO ranged from 17 to 77 out of 100. Conclusion ParkIndex represents a standardized metric of park access that combines elements of both park availability and quality, which was developed empirically, and can be represented spatially. This tool has both practical and conceptual significance for researchers and professionals in diverse disciplines.