A mixed-method evaluation of the New York State Eat Well Play Hard Community Projects: Building local capacity for sustainable childhood obesity prevention.

•A framework for local capacity building was used to assess built capacity for childhood obesity prevention.•Coalitions had to establish membership capacity before progressing to the eventual achievement of programmatic goals.•Environmental changes aimed at promoting active living and healthy eating were reported by five out of seven coalitions.•Technical assistance and training provided to community coalitions contributed to the achievement of programmatic goals.