The IMPALA project pursues the general objective 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 (existing policies and mechanisms) of local infrastructures for leisure-time physical activity in EU member states. Potentially, this will help reduce inequalities in access to infrastructures for leisure-time physical activity within and across nations.

IMPALA will collect information on existing policies and mechanisms through qualitative interviews with experts and policy-makers on national levels. A dialogue on existing good practice will be established through a two-day workshop meeting. Good practice will be identified by generating a checklist of quality standards and assessing existing national policies and mechanisms against this checklist in participating nations. Results will be disseminated and implemented through national workshops with experts and policy-makers.

IMPALA shall result in a checklist of quality standards for policies and mechanisms for the development of local infrastructures for leisure-time physical activity. Furthermore, it shall result in an assessment of practice in the participating nations against this checklist. On the national levels, IMPALA shall stimulate a dialogue among scientists, experts, and policy-makers on these quality criteria. Experts and policy-makers from other EU nations shall be informed about the project and its outcomes through a conference/satellite meeting.