The Schoolyard Project

The Schoolyard Project studied the affects of openeing a schoolyard on weekday afternoons and on Saturdays. Before the project began, the schoolyard was locked when school was not in session. Results of the intervention were compared to a control schoolyard, that remained fenced and locked outside of class time.

The study measured:

• attendance at the intervention schoolyard
• physical activity at the intervention schoolyard, by direct observation
• physical activity of children in the neighborhoods surrounding both the intervention and control schoolyards, by direct observations
• television-watching and other sedentary activities, by survey
• heights and weights of children enrolled at both schools

Surprisingly, 66% of the children observed in the schoolyard were "walking" or "very active" – this is a larger percentage than in organized physical education programs. The most dramatic results, however, were demonstrated in the surrounding neighborhoods. In seven of the eight quarters after the intervention began, there were more children outdoors and physically active in the intervention neighborhood than in the control neighborhood. Over the entire two year follow-up period, there were 20% more children observed outdoors and physically active in the intervention neighborhood than in the control neighborhood. These results suggest that rather than displacing activity that would have taken place elsewhere, availability of a safe play space may actually have increased play in the surrounding neighborhood.

Learn more about the Schoolyard Project by downloading our community brief or by reading the project abstract.

In order to assess physical activity in the neighborhoods surrounding the intervention and control schoolyards, the investigators developed n observational tool - the Method for Assessing Physical activity in Neighborhood Environments, or MAP-NE.  This tool is a modified version of the System for Observing Play and Leisure Activity in Youth (SOPLAY), developed by Thomas McKenzie of San Diego State University.  Additional information on the MAP-NE can be found below:

MAP-NE Protocol                    MAP-NE Data Recording Form