electronic Community Park Audit Tool (eCPAT)

Advancing public park information and technology resources to diverse audiences for healthy communities. 
Parks are key community resources that provide numerous psychological, physiological, and social benefits. Most notably, parks can facilitate health cost savings (more users benefiting from physical activity, stress relief, etc.) that can contribute to the prevention of chronic conditions such as depression, obesity, diabetes, and cancers. However, maximizing the potential of community parks requires an accurate understanding and promotion of park resources. The eCPAT System is intended to be a set of evidence-based tools to engage diverse stakeholders in evaluating, improving, and accessing park information to improve awareness and promote park-based physical activity and community health.

Funding

This project is funded by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health.

eCPAT Prototype

A preliminary eCPAT mobile application was developed based on the original Community Park Audit Tool (CPAT) that was funded by Active Living Research via the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Testing of the eCPAT app with 52 youth across 47 parks found that not only was it a user-friendly, valid, and reliable tool, but that the eCPAT app was a preferred method to collect and interact with park data.

Current Stages

The eCPAT Project will include two phases:

Phase 1: Development of the eCPAT System including:

  • Refinement of the eCPAT mobile app
  • Database and security features
  • Web-based interfaces for diverse stakeholders (e.g., general public, park industry, health care professionals)

Phase 2: Gather feedback on the value, content, feasibility, and dissemination of the eCPAT System via key informant interviews and workshops with:

  • Parks professionals
  • Public health researchers
  • Health care professionals
  • Real-estate agents
  • Citizens

Future Directions

Potential future stages include:

  • Product refinement and commercialization
  • Standardization of park resource data at the state and national level
  • Integration with other technology platforms to support health promotion and intervention efforts

More information

For more information about eCPAT, please see this brief project description and feel free to contact us:

Andrew Kaczynski, PhD
University of South Carolina
atkaczyn@mailbox.sc.edu

Ben Schooley, PhD
EnQ Director
schooley.ben@gmail.com

Gina Besenyi, PhD
Kansas State University
gbesenyi@ksu.edu

Sonja Wilhelm Stanis, PhD
University of Missouri
sonjaws@missouri.edu

Shirelle Hallum, MPH
University of South Carolina
shallum@email.sc.edu