Safe Places to Play and Be Active: Identifying Opportune Sites for Joint Use in Oakland, CA

Rachel Cushing || UP 206A || February 8, 2011

The Problem• Childhood obesity rates have tripled in last 30 years

• Californians not meeting national guidelines for physical activity:

• 6 out of 10 adults; 7 out of 10 children

• This could be the first generation of American children to have a shorter lifespan than their parents

Sources: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Troiano, et al. (2008); Olshansky, et al. (2005); California Health Interview Survey

"Joint Use”

• The sharing of school facilities with local communities

• Health benefits• Cost benefits• Community benefits

• 40% of California school districts do not have joint use partnerships in effect

Sources: Alameda County Public Health Department ; Center for Cities and Schools; Prevention Institute

Skills: inset map, attribute sub-sets selection

Oakland Zip Codes was derived by Querying zip_poly for

FID=Oakland and exporting data it to a new layer

• 23% of Alameda County residents are obese

(BMI > 30)Source: Alameda County Public Health Department

• 31% of Alameda County residents are overweight

(BMI = 25-29.9)Source: Alameda County Public Health Department

• Oakland population: 397,067

Source: U.S. Census, 2006 estimate

• Highest population: 94601 area code

Source: U.S. Census, 2010 projection

Oakland’s Parks and Recreation Department maintains:

• 2,500 acres open space

• 100 parks

• 25 recreation & community centers

Source: City of Oakland Parks and Recreation Department

Skills: buffering, geoprocessing (clipping)

Children that lack access to parks have 20-45%

higher odds of becoming obese or overweight

compared to those with easy access

Source: Glanz K & Sallis J (2006)

Skills: inset map,attribute sub-sets selection

Block group 060014074002 was derived by selecting block group 060014074002

in the View from Block_Groups and converting it to a new shapefile

Nearly all of the 1,440 residents of Census block group 4074002 do not live within 0.5 miles of a park

Source: U.S. Census 2010 projection

Skill: geocoding

12 Oakland Unified School District schools are located within the

94601 zip code

Elementary ASCEND Elementary School

Elementary Lazear Elementary School

Elementary Learning Without Limits

Elementary Manzanita Community School

Elementary Manzanita Seed

Elementary Think College Now Elementary School

High College Prep & Architecture Academy

High Life Academy

High Mandela High School

HighMedia College Preparatory

High School

Middle United For Success

Middle Urban Promise Academy

High Opportunity Schools

Safety and Park Use

• Children that must cross several roads to get to parks are 40-60% less likely than other children to walk or bicycle to parks at least three times per week

Source: Timperio A, et al. (2004); Google images

High Opportunity Schools

ASCEND Elementary School

Lazear Elementary School

California Fitnessgram Fitness Tests• 1) Aerobic Capacity

– PACER (Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run)– One-Mile Run– Walk Test (only for ages 13 or older)

• 2) Abdominal Strength and Endurance– Curl-Up

• 3) Upper Body Strength and Endurance– Push-Up– Modified Pull-Up– Flexed-Arm Hang

• 4) Body Composition– Skinfold Measurements – Body Mass Index– Bioelectric Impedance Analyzer

• 5) Trunk Extensor Strength and Flexibility– Trunk Lift

• 6) Flexibility– Back-Saver Sit and Reach– Shoulder Stretch

Source: California Department of Education

Life Academy

Urban Promise Academy

High Opportunity Schools

Manzanita Community

Manzanita Seed

Skill: chart

All High Opportunity Schools

School Name # Students

College Prep & Architecture Academy 370

Life Academy 260

Mandela High School 343

Manzanita Community School 279

Manzanita Seed 280

Urban Promise Academy 300

Media College Preparatory High School 364

Recommendation

• Establish joint use agreements at the following OUSD schools:– College Prep & Architecture Academy– Life Academy– Mandela High School– Manzanita Community School– Manzanita Seed– Urban Promise Academy– Media College Preparatory High School

Skills Demonstrated

• Inset map• Attribute sub-sets selections• Boundary sub-sets selections • Buffer• Geocoding • Geoprocessing (clipping)• Chart

Next Steps• Locate health data at the zip code or Census block

group level– Physical activity rates– Overweight and obesity

• Determine other barriers to physical activity in the area– Community violence– Chronic disease (i.e., asthma)

• Determine acreage of High Opportunity School facilities