How Does Your City’s ParkScore® Ranking Stack Up?
We ranked the 100 most populous U.S. cities by comparing five park categories: equity, access, investment, amenities, and acreage. Is yours at the top?
-
99%residents live near a park -
21.5%city land is used for parks
-
$449per capita park spending
-
693parks and greenspaces
Don’t see your city?
Our ParkScore index ranks the 100 most populous U.S. cities, but our data goes deeper. Our ParkServe database reveals park access levels for every urban city and town across the United States and Puerto Rico. This powerful tool provides communities with the information they need to help close the park equity gap.
Trust for Public Land’s 2026 ParkScore® Report goes beyond rankings—it offers a powerful look at how parks are shaping the future of our communities. This year’s findings reveal that parks provide an undeniable return on investment: every $1 invested in parks and recreation returns, on average, at least $3 in local economic benefits each year. Explore the data, stories, and insights behind the top 100 park systems in the U.S.
Our data and analysis reveal the undeniable return on local park spending. In addition to great green space, cities that put money into their parks can expect improved public health outcomes and lower healthcare costs; reduced stormwater treatment costs; consumer savings on discretionary services; rising tax revenues for municipal governments, and a boost in public-private partnerships. But here’s the thing: None of those benefits comes to the party alone. They show up in force, delivering multiple, complementing, and overlapping outcomes that are far greater than the sum of their parts.
The following case studies are just three among thousands that demonstrate the far-reaching collateral improvements a single, local green space can bring to a community.
Our ParkScore index is the national gold-standard comparison of park systems across the 100 most populous cities in the United States. Every year, Trust for Public Land publishes the most complete and in-depth look at U.S. city park systems: Explore the complete rankings and resources here.
Millions of people still don’t have a quality park close to home. Using ParkScore® data, Trust for Public Land identifies where investment can have the greatest impact and works with communities to create healthier, greener, more connected neighborhoods. Help create parks and green spaces where they’re needed most.
We’re Partnering With Mayors to Bring More Parks to Your Community
We’re working with mayors nationwide to bring quality parks and green spaces to everyone, everywhere, with our 10-Minute Walk®program. And mayors across the country are pledging to bring everyone in their community a park within a 10-minute walk of home by 2050.
