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Youth physical activity is partly influenced by access to playgrounds and recreational opportunities. Playgrounds in disadvantaged areas may be less safe.

Investigators assessed safety at 154 playgrounds in Boston between July 2000 and July 2001. Playgrounds were geocoded and safety scores assigned to census block groups (CBGs). For each of Boston’s 591 CBGs, investigators calculated the total number youth and proportions of black residents, adults without a high school degree, and youth living in poverty. Investigators assigned each CBG a safety score, and calculated distance from the CBG centroid to the nearest playground and nearest “safe” playground (top safety quartile). Statistical analyses were completed using SAS PROC GENMOD by October 2002.

In bivariate analysis, playground safety was inversely associated with total CBG youth population (p =0.001 …