SOPARC: System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities

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Tools and Measures

SOPARC: System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities

January 2006
January, 2006
Author:
Thomas L. McKenzie, Ph.D., Deborah A. Cohen, MD, MPH
Topic:
Parks & Recreation, Parks
Population Served:
Unspecified
Location by State:
National
Study Type:
Measures
DOWNLOAD PDF (0.21 MB), DOWNLOAD PDF (0.21 MB), DOWNLOAD PDF (0.21 MB), DOWNLOAD PDF (0.21 MB)
Description:

SOPARC is a validated direct observation tool for assessing park and recreation areas, including park users’ physical activity levels, gender, activity modes/types, and estimated age and ethnicity groupings. It also collects information on park activity area characteristics (e.g., accessibility, usability, supervision, and organization).

A free 27 minute SOPLAY/SOPARC Introduction, Practice, and Assessment Training DVD is available from Active Living Research. Electronic download and hard copy DVD are available. We are no longer able to cover the costs associated with shipping the DVDs. We can provide instructions for how you can cover the shipping costs (~$4 per DVD). 

A few SOPARC observer training videos are also available on YouTube.

The SOPARC online application has been discontinued, but the full-text user guide is still available here.

The SOPARC app is also available for Apple i-Pads. Download for free on the Apple iTunes App Store.

 

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