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Table 1 Descriptive characteristics of playground features, schools, and neighborhoods

From: Features and amenities of school playgrounds: A direct observation study of utilization and physical activity levels outside of school time

 

Schoolyards (N = 20)

Playground features (possible score range)

Mean (SD) or %

Total unique types of play equipment (0-10)

5.20 (1.5)

Number of play features (0-∞)

30.35 (18.26)

Overall condition (1-3)

2.50 (0.48)

Overall cleanliness (1-3)

2.67 (0.40)

Overall quality (0-1)

0.59 (0.23)

Overall safety (0-1)

0.79 (0.26)

Presence of benches, % (0-1)

30%

Presence of trash cans, % (0-1)

30%

Coverage/shade for resting features (0-3)

0.55 (1.0)

Renovated, % (0-1)

50%

School characteristics

 

Average size of schoolyards, (sq. ft)

133,902 (34981)

Total school enrollment

442.55 (108.49)

Percentage of African-American students in school

66.0%

Population of children ≤17 in census tract

647.15 (385.80)

Percent of children ≤17 in census tract living in poverty

38.9%

Neighborhood characteristics

 

Temperature, (degrees Fahrenheit)

73.85 (12.12)

Number of parks/green spaces in .75 mile network buffer

3.45 (1.61)

Number of free recreational centers & pools in .75 mile network buffer

0.60 (.88)

Number of commercial PA resources in .75 mile network buffer

0.30 (.57)

Street connectivity (alpha index) in .75 mile network buffer

0.40 (0.02)