Conclusions and Policy Recommendations

Despite the well-documented benefits of regular physical activity, nearly one million California teens do not get recommended levels of physical activity, including 240,000 who get no activity at all. Teens with no access to a safe park get less activity, as well as those who live in urban areas, those who live in apartment buildings, teens from low-income families, and those living in neighborhoods perceived as unsafe. Not only is access to a safe park important in encouraging adolescents to get more physical activity, it is critical for teens living in urban areas and for adolescents who live in apartment buildings, low-income families or unsafe neighborhoods.