SOPARC was designed to obtain direct information on community park use, including relevant concurrent characteristics of parks and their users. It provides an assessment of park users’ physical activity levels, gender, activity modes/types, and estimated age and ethnicity groupings. Additionally, it provides information on individual park activity areas, such as their levels of accessibility, usability, supervision, and organization.

Relevant Target Areas within a park are first measured, coded, and mapped. Certified assessors then visit the target areas during specific time periods on randomly scheduled days. During the RAND PARKS study, SOPARC observations will be made throughout the day, and include specified times in the morning, noon, afternoon, and evening (7:30AM; 11:30AM; 3:30PM; 6:30PM).