Characteristics of the users of Parque Minhocão, São Paulo-SP

Abstract

Parque Minhocão was created by the interdiction of an elevated road for traffic on certain days and times. Because of this peculiarity, its users may have different characteristics from those of the users of traditional parks that need to be known to support heath action on this place.  This study investigated these characteristics from a sample of 265 participants of a health champaign conducted in this park. It was observed that the park users were formed by young (45.3%) or middle-aged (36.6%) adults, with higher education level (46%) and from different economic classes, living up to 1000 m from the park (75.5%) and doing the route to the park on foot (84.5%), mainly on weekends (56, 2%), in up to 10 min (71.3%). Most were active in leisure time (60.4%) and used the park mainly for performing physical activities (84.9%), especially walking (65.7%) and running (32.5%). These characteristics, in general, were similar between genders and age groups. In conclusion, the adult users of Parque Minhocão are mainly young and middle aged, physically active, from different economic classes who live in its vicinity and go to the park to practice leisure physical activities, especially walking and running.