Impact measurement report of the placemaking for active recreation interventions suggests lasting effect in time that is not predefined in the course of the project

The PARK Evaluation Report 2022 summarizes the data acquired from the four participating counties in the pilot test of the PARK intervention with the application Placemaking methodology and report analysis of the implemented interventions in those counties. 

The survey was carried out between in November and December 2022 after completion of the planned interventions in 4 partner countries (Bulgaria, Romania, Malta, and Spain) among 224 respondents. Due to the specific aim of the PARK project the survey was implemented only among participants in the planned interventions of selected locations and those not have a representative character. The collected data reflects on the effect of the intervention in the participants and their attitude towards outdoor activity in the communities.

The overall evaluation of the process from the participants and the implementing organisations is highly positive. 

1. One of the determinants for such evaluation is the bottom-up orientation and low entry barrier of the intervention. For the participants and the implementing organisation it is easy to take part in the process. The process does not require specific facilities or expensive sport infrastructure. 
2. The methodology takes into account a more realistic concept of community change. Instead of resting on administrative and legal division of specific sector (sport and physical activity), it aims at changing a whole group of determinants resulting in lower levels of sport and PA and at empowering the citizens – by giving them the opportunity to actually participate in the process of change with their time and efforts.

The high evaluation of the participants in the process is one of the characteristics showing the potential. On the other hand, the evaluation of the participating organisations and the employed methodology (Placemaking) suggest that the effects of the project activity could have additional effects lasting in time that are not predefined in the course of the project: 

• Physical structures created in public spaces suggest non-structured activities that support self-organisation in local community. 
• Shared concept of physical structures and opportunities to use public spaces in similar ways support the development of shared understanding of the concepts of sport and physical activity that could not be achieved only through education and programmes because they suggest a shared embodied experience.

Full report can be found here.