Results:

• 45% of children live in areas with land use incentives for active living, with the most common incentives for development including open/green space (41%), park/recreation areas (28%), and sidewalks/trails (16%).
• Children living in suburban/urban areas were more likely to live in areas with incentive policies promoting active living, particularly addressing open space and sidewalk/trails, than children in rural areas.
• Children in suburban/urban areas were twice as likely to live in areas with density/development bonuses than children in rural areas (22% vs. 10%).
• There were no significant patterns in policies by race/ethnicity or U.S. region.

Methods:

• This brief analyzed policies collected from 2011-2012 in 314 communities representing 676 jurisdictions from a nationally representative sample of public middle and high school enrollment areas. Policies were evaluated for incentives (financial, in-kind, expedited permitting, or density/development bonuses) to promote development of park/recreation areas, open space, and sidewalks/trails.

Thrun E, Chriqui JF, Slater SJ, Chaloupka FJ. (2016). Incentive Policies as Tools to Encourage Physical Activity. [Research Brief.] Chicago, IL: Bridging the Gap Program, Health Policy Center, Institute for Health Research and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago.