Boston, MA
12
How we calculate the Boston ParkScore® Rating

The ranking for Boston is based on five characteristics of an effective park system: access, investment, acreage, amenities, and equity.

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Access
100
Acreage
48
Investment
83
Amenities
61
Equity
78
100% of Boston residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park. National Average 55%

We’re working to ensure that every person, in every neighborhood, in every city across America has a quality park within a 10-minute walk of home.

How are the parks distributed?
Boston residents who live within a 10-minute walk of a park
By Age (%)
Children (0 - 19)
100
Adults (20 - 64)
100
Seniors (65+)
100
By Income (%)
High Income
100
Middle Income
100
Low Income
100
Race/Ethnicity (%)
American Indian*
100
Asian*
99
Black*
100
Hispanic
100
Pacific Islander*
100
White*
100
2 or More Races*
100
Other*
100
*Excludes those that report Hispanic origin (which is captured separately from race by the U.S. Census).
Park Space per Person by Race/Ethnicity Relative to City Median
Residents in neighborhoods where most people identify as a person of color have access to 12% less park space per person than those in predominantly white neighborhoods. Any Census-designated race/ethnicity not shown above does not meet the minimum threshold to be displayed.
How do park amenities measure up?
We compared Boston against the others to determine where it falls for spending per capita.
Basketball Hoops
54
4.1 per 10,000 people
Playgrounds
62
3.9 per 10,000 people
Rec & Senior Centers
69
1.1 per 20,000 people
Dog Parks
53
1.4 per 100,000 people
Bathrooms
26
0.9 per 10,000 people
Splashpads
100
12.1 per 100,000 people
How much is Boston investing in parks?
We compared Boston against the others to determine where it falls for spending per capita
Park Spending per Capita
  • City agency
    $73 (43%)
  • Other public agencies
    $65 (39%)
  • Private organizations
    $27 (16%)
  • Monetized volunteer hours
    $3 (2%)
$168
Total Spending Per Capita
  • National Averages, Spending Per Capita:
  • City agency: $83 (85%)
  • Other public agencies: $7 (7%)
  • Private organizations: $5 (5%)
  • Monetized volunteer hours: $3 (3%)
  • TOTAL: $98
Make the Commitment
Pledge to make parks a priority!
Everyone should have access to a quality park within a 10-minute walk of home. Our 10-Minute Walk™ Program calls on mayors to demonstrate their commitment to parks and adopt long-term, system-wide strategies that accelerate the creation of parks.