Page - 393 - in Biodiversity and Health in the Face of Climate Change

393 Table 17.2 Summary characteristics of greenway and trail interventions Reference Study design Population Intervention Outcome Evenson et  al. (2005) North Carolina, USA Quasi- experimental: pre-post design Adults aged >18  years living within 2  miles of the trail A railway was converted to a multi-use trail Trail 2.8  miles/10  feet wide with 2 mile spur of 23 mile trail; trail passed by 2 schools, shopping areas, apartment buildings and neighbourhoods −ve: Those who had never used the trail had sig. declines in median time spent in MVPA, vigorous PA and bicycling for transport. Those who had used the trail also had sig. declines in median time spent in vigorous PA. Burbidge and Goulias (2009) Utah, USA Quasi- experiment: longitudinal design Individuals residing near the new trail Construction of a trail (2-way multi-use trail separated from existing roads and sidewalks) for both transportation and recreation. The trail created a 2.5  mile loop connecting two currently existing sidewalks −ve: Negative sig. effect on PA and walking between baseline and follow-up; 18–64  year olds sig. increased number of PA episodes between baseline and follow-up (p  =  0.024) Fitzhugh et  al. (2010) Tennessee, USA Quasi- experiment: controlled, pre-post design Children, adolescents and adults in neighbourhood Retrofit of an urban greenway (2.9  miles long; 8-foot wide) to enhance connectivity of pedestrian infrastructure with nearby retail establishments and schools (cost: $2.1  m) +ve: Pre and post intervention changes between experimental and control neighbourhoods were sig. different for total PA (p  =  0.001); walking (p  =  0.001) and cycling (p  =  0.038). There was no sig. change over time for active transport to school West and Shores (2011) North Carolina, USA Quasi- experiment: controlled, pre-post design Residents living within 0.5 mile radius of greenway 5  miles of greenway developed and added to existing greenway along a river −ve: No sig. difference between intervention and control group (continued) 17 Environmental, Health and  Equity Effects of  Urban Green Space Interventions