Abstract

This article contributes to discussions of interventions that promote child physical activity in inner-city neighborhoods. Researchers have found that inner-city neighborhoods with minority populations face multiple built environment-related barriers to physical activity, and have documented the need for place-based interventions to promote more opportunities for physical activity. Using a resilience framework and drawing on qualitative data, we present first-hand recommendations from African American caregivers of preschool age children. Caregivers’ recommendations centered on building more recreational venues, and detailed the critical characteristics of these venues, including safety, availability, accessibility, developmental-appropriateness, and multi-generational activities and programs. Caregivers also cited the importance of using existing community assets. Caregivers’ proposed interventions to promote more physical activity opportunities for their children reflected their knowledge of the local neighborhood, their understandings of local challenges, and their preferred solutions. Applied research that includes direct insights from participants is more likely to develop interventions that are valid and effective.