A path more traveled: A case for increased active recreation opportunities in Oregon’s small communities

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Date

2018-08-25

Authors

Willeke, Jamie

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Abstract

Physical activity is a main component of preventing and controlling chronic diseases associated with sedentary lifestyles. When built environments are developed to prioritize vehicle transportation, coupled with increased mechanization of everyday activities, sedentary lifestyles and associated chronic diseases become more prevalent. This project builds a case for the implementation of linear parks as a prescriptive element to provide increased active recreation opportunities in small communities that are affected by inactivity-related chronic diseases. Small communities are affected by this issue, but can be limited in funding and planning resources. This project defines linear parks and provides a linear park typology accompanied by conceptual park designs for adaptation into other communities. A two-part linear park siting method, consisting of a GIS-based landscape search analysis and small-scale suitability analysis, is outlined and applied to the small community of Roseburg, Oregon as an example study area on which to test the method and applicability of linear park types. The results of the method are mapped and discussed to provide guidance to future small communities that want to increase active recreation opportunities.

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Examining committee chair: Chris Enright

Keywords

linear parks, small communities, inactivity-related chronic diseases, active recreation, linear park network, linear park typology, linear park definition

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