Shade in public areas

Data sources: Rapid Risk Factor Surveillance System (RRFSS), 2012

Sample: Residents 18 years and over in the KFL&A area.

Released: May 2013

Introduction to shade in public places in KFL&A

When asked questions regarding shade, respondents were asked to please think about areas such as schoolyards, parks, and the spectator areas of sports fields. Data is provided for the most recent survey asked in 2012. These questions were also asked in 2007. However, there were no differences or trends between 2007 and 2012.

Shade in schoolyards, parks and the spectator areas of sports fields

Respondents were asked about their viewpoint on how important they feel it is to have areas that are shaded from the sun in schoolyards, parks and the spectator areas of sports fields so that people can reduce their sun exposure.

Figure A. Importance of shade in schoolyards, parks and the spectator areas of sports fields, KFL&A, 2012

Figure A. Please see table A below for text representation.

Table A. Importance of shade in schoolyards, parks and the spectator areas of sports fields, KFL&A, 2012, % (95% confidence interval)

Importance category	Adults
Very important	71.6% (69.9, 73.3)
Somewhat important	21.6% (20.1, 23.1)
Not important	6.8% (6.0, 7.8)

Interpretation for Figure A

71.6% (69.9, 73.3) of KFL&A area residents indicated that they thought it was very important to have areas that are shaded from the sun in schoolyards, parks and spectator areas of sport fields so that people can reduce their sun exposure.

Support for building structures to provide shade in schoolyards, parks and the spectator areas of sports fields

Respondents were asked if they supported building roofs to shade parts of schoolyards, some of the sitting areas in parks and the spectator areas of sport fields so that people can reduce their sun exposure.

Figure B. Support for building structures to provide shade in schoolyard, parks and the spectator areas of sports fields, KFL&A, 2012

Figure B. Please see Table B below for text description.

Table B. Support for building structures to provide shade in schoolyard, parks and the spectator areas of sports fields, KFL&A, 2012, % (95% Confidence Interval)

Support category	Adults
Yes	84.6% (83.2, 85.8)
No	15.4% (14.2, 16.8)

Interpretation for Figure B

84.6% (83.2, 85.8) of KFL&A area residents indicated that they would support building roofs to shade parts of schoolyards, some of the sitting areas in parks and the spectator areas of sport fields so that people can reduce their sun exposure.

Support for having trees planted to provide shade in schoolyards, parks and the spectator areas of sports fields

Respondents were asked if they supported having trees planted to provide shade in schoolyards, parks and the spectator areas of sport fields so that people can reduce their sun exposure.

Figure C. Support for planting trees to provide shade in schoolyard, parks and the spectator areas of sports fields, KFL&A, 2012

Figure C. Please see table C below for text representation.

Table C. Support for planting trees to provide shade in schoolyard, parks and the spectator areas of sports fields, KFL&A, 2012, % (95% Confidence Interval)

Support category	Adults
Yes	97.4% (96.8, 98.0)
No	2.6% (2.0, 3.2)

Interpretation for Figure C

97.4% (96.8, 98.0) of KFL&A area residents indicated that they would support having trees planted to provide shade in schoolyards, parks and the spectator areas of sport fields so that people can reduce their sun exposure.

Support for local government spending a small amount of funds to build roofs or plant trees

Respondents were asked if they supported having local government spend a small amount of funds to build roofs or plant trees so people can reduce sun exposure. This question was only to respondents who indicated that they supported building roofs or planting trees to provide shade in schoolyards, parks and the spectator areas of sport fields so that people can reduce their sun exposure.

Figure D. Support for local government spending a small amount of funds to build roofs or plant trees, KFL&A, 2012

Figure D. Please see table D below for text representation.

Table D. Support for local government spending a small amount of funds to build roofs or plant trees, KFL&A, 2012, % (95% Confidence Interval)

Support Category	Adults
Yes	97.3% (96.6, 97.8)
No	2.7% (2.2, 3.4)

Interpretation for Figure D

97.3% (96.6, 97.8) of KFL&A area residents who previously indicated that they would support building roofs or having trees planted, also support the local government spending a small amount of funds to build roofs or plant trees so that people could reduce their sun exposure.

Notes

The Rapid Risk Factor Surveillance System, RRFSS, is a random-digit-dialed telephone survey of adults aged 18 years and older, conducted by the Institute for Social Research at York University, on behalf of KFL&A Public Health.

Confidence intervals explained

Researchers look at the "confidence levels" of percentages being compared to decide if there is a statistically significant difference between percentages. If the 95% confidence intervals of two estimates do not overlap, there is considered to be a significant difference between the estimates. A statistically significant difference means that:

the difference between two percentages is unlikely to have occurred by chance alone, and
there is likely a true difference or change in the percentages.

In this report, 95% confidence intervals will accompany each percentage in all figures and tables. The true or actual percentage falls within the 95% confidence interval range 95 times out of 100. A wide confidence interval reflects a large amount of variability or imprecision. Usually, the larger the sample size, the narrower the confidence intervals. In tables, the 95% confidence intervals will be written with the percentage, followed by the 95% confidence interval range in brackets, e.g., 25.3% (12.3, 32.4). In figures, the 95% confidence interval are represented by error bars at the top of each bar.