Parks and Recreation in Cancer Prevention: Bringing Cancer Center Outreach and Engagement Initiatives to Public Spaces Through Partnership With Local Governments

IntroductionPublic parks are an integral part of the built environment, with a considerable role to promote public health by advancing physical health, mental wellness and overall quality of life. The potential exists for parks and greenspace to contribute to cancer control and prevention, and local park and recreation departments (PARDs) are natural partners for Comprehensive Cancer Centers as they pursue Community Outreach and Engagement activities. However there is a lack of research on best practices for structuring these relationships to ensure success.MethodsA collaboration framework for Comprehensive Cancer Centers and PARDs was informed by the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment (EPIS) model of implementation science. The model was applied by a large cancer center to 3 implementation sites in the greater Houston area. A set of shared measures were developed and tracked across all sites.ResultsThree PARDs implemented 5 unique active living and sun safety evidence-based interventions (EBIs) of 2 main types, educational focused interventions (to increase knowledge and change behavior) and infrastructure interventions (to modify the physical environment). Three-quarters (75%, 9/12) of all educational EBIs across communities were sustained by the PARDs one or more years after the funding ended; all (13/13) infrastructure projects were completed during the active implementation period and sustained by the PARDs. A range of 10-39 partners supported the work of the PARDs.ConclusionThe 3 collaboration sites each offer a case study on the impact and effectiveness of health promotion across sectors to impact modifiable risk factors for cancer, leveraging the replicable EPIS model. Partnership is critical to both sectors to advance community health and impact.