The PARA is a brief, one-page, check-box instrument used to assess the type, features, amenities, quality and incivilities of a variety of physical activity resources (e.g., parks, churches, schools, sports facilities, fitness centers, community centers, and trails). Assessments typically take fewer than 10 minutes for an medium sized (less than one city block) resource. Features, amenities and incivilities are rated using discrete operational definitions (with pictures as aids) on rating scales of poor, mediocre or good. Raters are trained first in house using the protocol and definitions and then field trained to criterion. Initial reliability tests have shown good (ks>.77) reliability. A digitized beta version for a hand held device is in testing, and a Spanish version of the PARA is under development.
More information, including the PARA instrument, protocols, and definitions, are available from the PARA website.
