Good Practice in EuropeA number of European projects have dealt with issues of urban planning,
transportation, and physical activity behaviour. None of the existing networks
and projects, however, has pursued the harmonisation of efforts for the
development of sports facilities and recreational areas for physical activity.
General Objective
The EU-sponsored IMPALA project aims to identify, implement, and
disseminate good practice in the planning, financing, building, and
managing
of local infrastructures for leisure- time physical activity. IMPALA will assist in
concerting efforts for the development of local infrastructures for leisure-
time physical activity in EU member states, thus helping to reduce
inequalities in access to infrastructures for leisure-time physical activity
within and across nations.
Specific Objectives
To pursue the specific objectives of IMPALA, the following methods will be
utilized:
(1)Assessing national policies: IMPALA will conduct qualitative interviews with
national experts and policymakers who are familiar with existing regulatory
laws and guidelines for the development of infrastructures for leisure-time
physical activity.
(2)Assessing national mechanisms: IMPALA partners will analyse existing
documents about specific procedures and instruments utilized in the
development of infrastructures for leisure-time physical activity in every
nation.
(3)Agreeing on good practice: Partners will agree on a set of quality criteria
for policies and mechanisms for the development of infrastructures for
leisure-time physical activity. These criteria will be summarised in a
checklist. Associated partners will evaluate existing policies and mechanisms
in their nation against the checklist of good practice criteria.
(4)Dissemination and implementation of good practice: IMPALA partners will
present results of the project at a conference with European experts and
policy-makers. Additionally, on the national levels, partners will invite
relevant experts and policy- makers to workshop meetings to present and
discuss results of the project and develop ideas about means for their
implementation.